Lester Crest

Lester Crest is a hacker and heist planner who once worked with Michael Townley, Trevor Philips and Brad Snider. He refuses to join their 2004 robbery in Ludendorff, suspecting it will go badly. After Michael apparently dies and Brad is arrested, Lester moves to Los Santos, buys a garment factory in La Mesa and discovers that Michael has survived under the name Michael De Santa. He keeps that knowledge to himself.

Michael returns to Lester after demolishing Martin Madrazo's house in Rockford Hills and needing money for the repairs. From his home in El Burro Heights, Lester makes Michael kill Lifeinvader founder Jay Norris before agreeing to help. He then brings Michael and Franklin Clinton into the Vangelico jewellery store job, gathering intelligence, arranging equipment and helping them choose a crew. The robbery gives Michael the money to settle Madrazo's demand.

Lester separately employs Franklin for a series of corporate killings. Franklin murders Bilkinton Research chief Brett Lowrey, four jurors in the Redwood Cigarettes case, Facade executive Jackson Skinner, Vapid investor Isaac Penny and construction developer Enzo Bonelli. Lester uses information about their employers and rivals to profit from the resulting changes in the stock market. He remains in contact as Michael's renewed criminal work draws attention from old enemies.

After Trevor learns that Michael is alive, Lester reunites with him as well. He advises Trevor, Michael and Franklin after they steal a weapon from Merryweather, and presses them to return it rather than invite a larger response. Lester plans the Blaine County Savings Bank robbery at Paleto Bay to fund an FIB operation, supplying intelligence and a crew before the three men fight their way out of town with the money.

Lester helps Michael, Franklin and Trevor prepare the FIB's raid on the Bureau headquarters. When Wei Cheng's Triads capture Michael, he traces the kidnappers and directs Franklin to the meatpacking plant where Michael is held. He continues to coordinate their work against the FIB and the IAA, then researches the Union Depository and lays out the alternatives for robbing its gold. He assembles the needed personnel and supports the operation from the garment factory.

After the Union Depository job, Franklin must decide what to do with Michael and Trevor. If Franklin sides with Devin Weston and kills Michael, or follows Lester's advice to kill Trevor, Lester survives. If Franklin refuses both demands, Lester helps arrange a trap for Stretch, Wei Cheng and Devin. He has Devin delivered in the trunk of a car to the Los Santos cliffs, where Franklin, Michael and Trevor send the car into the ocean.