An Eden Prairie man faces federal charges after allegedly using a fake identity to chat with a teenager online.
Authorities located the suspect at the home and identified him as Michael Bruce Gillis, 35, of Eden Prairie. He was taken into custody and now faces one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of production of child sexual abuse material. He remains detained pending further proceedings. According to the complaint, investigators discovered two additional active cases involving Gillis, both related to child exploitation—one in Hennepin County, Minn., and another in Polk County, Fla.
Federal officials emphasized the importance of prosecuting such cases aggressively:
“As this case demonstrates, child predators are clear and present dangers to the children of Minnesota,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick. “We have federal tools at our disposal—including significant mandatory minimum sentences—that appropriately take predators like this off the street for decades.”
“As this case demonstrates, child predators are clear and present dangers to the children of Minnesota,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick. “We have federal tools at our disposal—including significant mandatory minimum sentences—that appropriately take predators like this off the street for decades.”
Special Agent in Charge, Alvin Winston Sr. of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, called Gillis’ alleged conduct “deliberate” and “predatory,” stating it caused “significant harm and trauma” to the juvenile victim.
