Bay City, MI – A 21-year-old Bay City man described as a “cybersecurity professional” is now facing a second wave of charges after state prosecutors filed new counts on top of a sweeping federal indictment.
Lucas G. Pelletier was arraigned Sept. 19 in Bay County District Court. Court records show he is charged with:
→ Three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child aged 13–15 (15-year felonies),
→ One count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (a life offense), and
→ One count of accosting a child for immoral purposes.
According to an affidavit filed by a Michigan State Police investigator, Pelletier met a 15-year-old online under the alias “Zack Stell.” She told investigators he paid her for sex and for video recordings of the acts. The affidavit says police recovered the videos and that Pelletier confessed to the assault.
Federal Case Already Underway
Federal court documents show Pelletier was indicted in May on 11 counts:
→ Four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor,
→ Two counts of sex trafficking children,
→ Distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography, and
→ Interstate communication with threats to extort.
Prosecutors allege his crimes ran from March 2023 through January 2025 and involved at least five victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Hemann, in a June hearing, told the court that Pelletier created a Reddit page to advertise a 15-year-old victim, which drew more than 140 responses. She said he sold her social media information for payment, distributed videos of himself assaulting her, and used Snapchat to try to recruit girls as young as 12.
Pelletier allegedly bragged to another teen that he made $2,700 from one assault video, telling her: “People love it. Bank is bank.”
He also allegedly offered alcohol and marijuana in exchange for illicit photos, and threatened to damage one girl’s reputation if she refused.
Attempted Flight Abroad
Court filings show that after a January 2025 search warrant at his home, Pelletier left the country. He traveled to Montenegro, Austria, and Shanghai before returning to the U.S. from China on June 25, when he was arrested.
Prosecutors have emphasized that his cybersecurity background makes him a heightened risk to the public.
What’s Next
Pelletier remains in federal custody. His federal trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 9. On the state charges, he is due back in Bay County District Court for a preliminary examination on Oct. 8.
