A former medical resident in Detroit has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges after a series of disturbing messages revealed his fantasies to sexually abuse children. Lincoln Erickson, 32, of Farmington Hills, entered the plea on Tuesday, admitting to receiving child pornography following an investigation that uncovered a network of horrific communications, leading to his arrest and that of three other men.
Investigation Unveils Network
Erickson, who worked as a medical resident at a Detroit hospital, was taken into custody on December 10, 2025, after the arrest of Brett Tooman in Ohio exposed a child pornography ring. Tooman had been arrested on March 29, 2025, after allegedly traveling to Toledo to sexually abuse a seven-year-old girl and a six-month-old infant that he believed existed, according to court documents.
Tooman's arrest, which followed a disturbing text exchange with an undercover investigator, led authorities to Jeremy Brian Tacon and Joshua Ronnebaum. Ronnebaum's arrest, in turn, revealed a text thread with Erickson via standard text messages and Telegram, an encrypted chat application, as detailed in the criminal complaint.
Disturbing Messages
In November 2025, Erickson allegedly told Ronnebaum that he had sexually abused a boy and fantasized about having a child with another man, whom they could all abuse and groom from infancy to adulthood. 'Start them young,' Erickson wrote in one message, according to reports.
The complaint also stated that Erickson admitted to sexually abusing a three-year-old child of a friend by forcing the child to perform oral sex. He shared graphic fantasies and child pornography images with Ronnebaum.
Previous Charges and AI Claims
Erickson had previously been charged with domestic violence in 2024. Upon his arrest on December 9, 2025, he allegedly admitted to receiving child pornography that he believed was generated by artificial intelligence from a man in Chicago, according to the complaint.
FBI agents seized Erickson's phone and uncovered messages on Telegram where the doctor wrote, 'Bro, I love other pedophiles. So hot,' and 'Love being a pedo,' as reported by local media.
Court Proceedings
During a hearing on December 16, 2025, prosecutors presented evidence of Erickson's interactions with the father of three minors, including phone sex, in-person meetings, and disturbing messages about the children. Erickson also allegedly attempted to impregnate an adult woman, described as his best friend.
'This pervert was lurking among our trusted medical professionals. At the same time, he was feeding his disgusting appetites and plotting to abuse little children. Thankfully, the FBI caught him when they did,' said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr.
Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, added: 'Any individual who records, possesses, or distributes child sexual abuse material should expect severe consequences under federal law. This defendant, a former doctor, possessed videos of children engaged in sexual activity. We look forward to seeing this predator sentenced.'
Sentencing
The guilty plea carries a prison sentence of five to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Erickson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15, 2026, and will be required to register as a sex offender.
