Why did a U.S. court let an Israeli cyber executive accused of pedophilia walk free on $10,000 bail?
The executive, arrested in Las Vegas during the Black Hat conference, was released on minimal bail and allowed to leave the country.
Why did a senior executive in Israel’s Cyber Directorate, suspected of pedophilia in the United States and released on bail of only $10,000, return to Israel even though he is scheduled to appear in court in Nevada in about a week and a half? This is just one of the troubling questions raised by the affair, which came to light over the weekend.
Las Vegas police announced the arrest of eight suspects in child sexual offenses in an operation conducted over the past two weeks in cooperation with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and other law enforcement agencies. The eight all face “felony charges of Luring a Child with Computer for Sex Act”. Under Nevada law, this constitutes a Class B felony, punishable by one to ten years in prison.
According to the announcement, one of those arrested is head of the National Cyber Directorate's technological defense division. The officer was in Las Vegas for the annual Black Hat hacker conference, held August 2–7. “There are two things you can’t escape at Black Hat 2025,” he wrote in a post on his LinkedIn account. “The incessant buzz around generative AI and the Hebrew heard in every hallway. It feels like 60% of the exhibit hall is showcasing Startup Nation, and the energy here is incredible.” His LinkedIn account has since been deleted.
Court records from Clark County, Nevada, show that the officer was brought before a judge on August 7 on suspicion of Luring a Child with Computer for Sex Act. The court set bail at $10,000, and scheduled a further hearing before Judge Barbara Schifalacqua. The executive posted bail the same day and was released shortly thereafter. According to the Cyber Directorate, he returned to Israel on his originally scheduled flight and informed his superiors that he had been questioned by U.S. authorities during his trip. Following the incident, he went on leave by joint decision with the Directorate.
The affair raises difficult questions about the Prime Minister’s Office’s response. Before the case was made public, the office issued a statement to the media: “A civil servant who traveled to the United States on professional matters was questioned during his stay by the American authorities. The employee, who does not hold a diplomatic passport, was not arrested, and returned to Israel on the scheduled date.”
Yet the facts contradict this version. The employee was indeed arrested, brought before a judge, and released on bail with another hearing set. Why, then, did the Prime Minister’s Office provide incorrect information? Either the facts were deliberately distorted, or the senior official misled his employers and they failed to verify the information.
Another troubling issue concerns the bail. While $10,000 is not considered excessive in Nevada for such an offense, this is typically applied to U.S. citizens or permanent residents with strong ties to the community. In the case of a foreign national with no binding connections to the country, the court would normally consider higher bail, seizure of a passport, or electronic monitoring.
The fact that the official returned to Israel, and that unless he voluntarily returns for his hearing, the court’s only option would be to initiate a complicated extradition process, suggests that the court’s decision was a serious misjudgment. At present, it remains unclear how the official was permitted to leave the United States, or whether he intends to return for the hearing.
Calcalist submitted questions to the Prime Minister’s Office, including:
- Why did the office provide misleading information about the circumstances of the arrest?
- Was the Prime Minister’s Office involved in the decision to set bail at $10,000?
- Who paid the bail?
- Does the employee intend to return to the U.S. for the scheduled August 27 hearing?
The Prime Minister’s Office responded: “On this issue, the Cyber Directorate’s spokesperson’s office should be contacted.”
The Cyber Directorate said: “The Cyber Directorate said: “The employee informed the Directorate that during his trip to the U.S. he was questioned by American authorities on issues unrelated to his work. He returned to Israel on his scheduled date. The Directorate has not yet received further information through official channels. If such information is received, the Directorate will act accordingly. At this stage, by joint decision, the employee has taken leave until the matter is clarified.”
The Directorate did not address the four specific questions raised. The Israel Police added: “As a general rule, any complaint or information raising suspicion of a criminal offense is examined by the police. Where there is a reasonable basis for suspicion, and depending on the circumstances, an investigation is opened. We do not provide details regarding the existence or non-existence of investigations, and this does not confirm or deny their existence.”
