Eden Prairie Man Charged With Coercion, Enticement of a Minor and Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

MINNEAPOLIS – Michael Bruce Gillis, an Eden Prairie man, has been charged via federal criminal complaint with coercion and enticement of a minor and production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to the criminal complaint, on March 2, 2025, the Mounds View Police Department received a report of a missing 15-year-old male. In an effort to locate the missing juvenile, his family members reviewed his personal electronic devices and discovered recent chat communications between Minor Victim A and an individual identified as “Nick Miller.” In their chat thread, Minor Victim A specifically identified himself as being “young” and still in high school, to which “Nick Miller” responded that he “like[s] younger guys” and that he was “okay with it.” From there, the chat transitioned to Minor Victim A and “Nick Miller” exchanging sexually explicit messages and graphic photos. The pair then made plans to meet, but because Minor Victim A was too young to drive, “Nick Miller” ordered an Uber to pick him up and drive him to the meetup location.

A few hours after the electronic communications between “Nick Miller” and Minor Victim A, law enforcement conducted a welfare check at the address “Nick Miller” had provided.  Law enforcement officers discovered Minor Victim A walking on foot a short distance from the indicated residence. Minor Victim A reported that “Nick Miller” had sexually assaulted him, and that he had escaped from the house after “Nick Miller” had fallen asleep. Law enforcement officers subsequently apprehended “Nick Miller” at the address he had provided, and positively identified him as Michael Bruce Gillis, 35. A subsequent records check revealed two other pending matters involving allegations of child exploitation, one in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and the other in Polk County, Florida.

“As this case demonstrates, child predators are clear and present dangers to the children of Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. 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 Acting U.S. Attorney, I have directed my office to continue to prioritize these abhorrent crimes—to send a strong deterrent message and to protect our community.”

“The allegations in this case are horrific. His deliberate, predatory behavior led to the sexual assault of a child, causing significant harm and trauma” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will use every resource available to ensure those who prey on the most vulnerable are brought to justice.”

Gillis was charged by criminal complaint today in U.S. District Court with one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of production of child pornography.  He is currently detained.  

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Eden Prairie Police Department, Mounds View Police Department, and the Bloomington Police Department.

"I am glad we are working with our federal partners to get these child predators off the street," said Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges. "I am confident this partnership will help keep our communities safe."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.  

A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.