Federal charges are pending against two internet personalities from Georgia on allegations a man tried to coerce minors for sex and his wife tried to cover it up.
Michael Wilson, 37, and Lori Wilson, 34, live in the Savannah area and have cultivated an online following for their tarot card and oracle readings. Lori Wilson also operates separate social media accounts under the name “Loretta Lightningbolt” and solicits contributions for creating video content.
The two were recently charged in separate federal indictments. Michael Wilson is accused of coercing a minor for sex and attempting to coerce a minor for sex, according to Bobby L. Christine, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The alleged interactions with minors took place from 2017 to early 2019 over the internet and through cellphones. Multiple minors reported the information to authorities, federal prosecutors said.
Wilson’s wife is accused of tampering with a victim after she allegedly tried to persuade one alleged victim to recant the allegations against her husband.
Lori Wilson told the alleged victim that their experiences were “psychic visions” or “dreams,” a federal grand jury charged in the indictment. Her efforts were allegedly an attempt to keep the minor from reporting information to agents of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Some of the circumstances outlined in Lori Wilson’s indictment involved Fort Stewart. The Army and the FBI both investigated the couple’s cases.
“The allegations in this indictment are disturbing in many different ways,” Chris Hacker, the special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said in a statement. “The FBI will make every effort to protect our most vulnerable members of society from adults who choose to prey on them.”
Michael Wilson, who was indicted Thursday, is facing up to life in prison if convicted. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Lori Wilson’s case was indicted in October. She is facing a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison along with up to five years of supervised release.
“Exploitation of children is inexcusable,” Christine said in a statement. “Our office and law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue and bring to justice anyone who would victimize the most vulnerable among us.”
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