BAY CITY, MI — A Bay City man and self-described “cybersecurity professional” has been federally indicted with sex trafficking minors and distributing illicit images online.
A grand jury on May 14 indicted Lucas G. Pelletier, 21, on 11 charges: two counts of sex trafficking children, four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of distribution of child pornography, and single counts of interstate communication with threats to extort, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
The indictment states Pelletier’s alleged crimes involved five underage victims. Between March 2023 and September 2024, Pelletier allegedly produced sexually explicit visuals of three minors, knowing the images would be sent across state lines and possibly out of the country.
Between May 21, 2024, and Sept. 1, 2024, prosecutors allege Pelletier “recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, and maintained” two more minors and caused them to engage in commercial sex acts.
They further allege Pelletier on Sept. 11, 2024, used the photo-sharing app Snapchat to message one of the minors, threatening their reputation if they did not give him some unspecified item of value, the indictment states.
Pelletier also received and distributed child porn online between May 2024 and Jan. 8, 2025, prosecutors allege. The illicit images included those of minors younger than 12, the affidavit states.
Pelletier on Thursday, June 26, had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court, with Magistrate Judge Anthony P. Patti informing him of the charges against him. Pelletier asked the judge to appoint him an attorney.
Prosecutors asked Patti to detain Pelletier pending trial, claiming he’s both a danger to the public and a flight risk.
Patti ordered Pelletier held until a detention hearing on Monday, June 30.
Pelletier graduated from Davenport University with a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Defense in April 2024. He participated in the CyberPatriot program while a student at Bay City Western High School and the Bay-Arenac ISD, his team in May 2021 receiving second place in the competition’s silver division, school records show.
On his LinkedIn profile, Pelletier describes himself as a “cybersecurity professional with a strong passion for technology, research, and staying ahead of constant changes in the digital landscape.”
