An Israeli national appeared in a California court on Oct. 30 after his extradition to face charges of stealing about $2.9 million in virtual currency, the US Justice Department said.
Alexander Gurevich, 49, faces charges under a 2023 indictment after his arrest in Israel in May 2025. The department published the details on Oct. 30 in a release titled “Israeli National Extradited to Face Charges for Stealing Nearly $3M in Virtual Currency Heist”.
The indictment alleges that Gurevich exploited a smart contract, a computer program that executes automatically, used by Nomad Bridge. He allegedly carried out four transactions on or about Aug. 1, 2022, moving virtual currency from Nomad’s address to an address he controlled.
The transfers involved 103 units of Wrapped Bitcoin and 300 units of Wrapped Ether, with an estimated combined value of about $2.9 million at the time, according to the indictment. The charges concern transactions prosecutors allege were unauthorized and carried out without authentication.
Prosecutors also allege that Gurevich converted the proceeds into other forms of virtual currency, including Bitcoin, shortly after the theft. He then allegedly moved the funds among multiple virtual currency addresses to conceal their source, location, ownership and control.
Gurevich faces charges of causing damage to a protected computer, interstate transportation of stolen money and money laundering. His initial appearance took place in the Northern District of California, where the indictment was filed.
The computer damage charge carries a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $250,000 fine, the department said. The charge of interstate transportation of stolen money carries the same maximum prison term and fine.
The money laundering charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine. Those penalties apply if Gurevich is convicted. The indictment contains allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The FBI is investigating the case. The department’s Office of International Affairs and Israeli authorities helped with the case and Gurevich’s return to the United States.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the department’s Criminal Division announced the case with Craig H. Missakian, US attorney for the Northern District of California.
Scott R. Schelble, an FBI special agent in charge, also announced the case.
Trial attorneys Jessica Peck and Ethan Cantor of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case alongside the Northern District of California.
