DETROIT – A former Metro Detroit doctor was sentenced this week to 108 months — or about nine years in federal prison — after pleading guilty in May to a federal child sex abuse charge. The charge stemmed from a multi-state investigation into the sexual exploitation of children involving three other men.
Lincoln Erickson, 32, of Farmington Hills and a former medical resident at a Detroit hospital, pleaded guilty May 20 to receipt of child pornography.
“Anyone who possess child sexual abuse material should expect severe consequences, and today, this sexual predator begins paying the price for his actions with more than 100 months in federal prison,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
Erickson was arrested by FBI agents on December 10, 2025, and remained in custody. According to court records, agents discovered videos of minors engaged in sex acts and AI-generated nude children touching adult men on Erickson’s phone.
Erickson also attempted to convince another man to allow Erickson to bathe the other man’s children and admitted to making plans to travel to the man’s house for that purpose, the FBI said.
As part of his sentence, Erickson will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Arrest tied to broader investigation
Erickson was one of four men arrested in connection with a large child pornography and sexual abuse case that began with the arrest of Brett Tooman in Toledo, Ohio.
On March 29, 2025, Toledo police arrested Tooman after he allegedly traveled to the area to sexually abuse a 7-year-old girl and a 6-month-old infant he believed existed.
Tooman’s arrest led investigators to Jeremy Brian Tacon, Joshua Ronnebaum and Erickson, who allegedly shared explicit and sexually abusive materials with one another.
FBI arrests Erickson at Detroit hospital
The FBI arrested Erickson on Dec. 10, 2025, at a Detroit hospital where he was working as a medical resident, after authorities reportedly discovered a conversation on Ronnebaum’s phone linking him to the case.
After his arrest, Erickson allegedly admitted receiving what he believed was AI‑generated child sexually abusive material from a man in Chicago. He was denied bond.
Erickson and Ronnebaum allegedly spoke about wanting to travel to Thailand and sexually abuse children together.
“Love being a pedo,” read one text message.
Erickson reportedly shared a fantasy about having a relationship with a man where they would raise a child together that they would abuse and groom “from baby to adulthood.”
“Start them young,” read one message.
The FBI said Erickson shared in messages that he knows a father who allegedly allows him to sexually abuse the man’s 3-year-old son.
A Telegram chat on his phone also showed him requesting more videos and writing, “Bro, I love other pedophiles. So hot.”
Court hearings
During a Dec. 16, 2025, court hearing, prosecutors presented evidence of Erickson’s interactions with the father of three minors, including phone sex and in-person meetings, as well as disturbing messages regarding the children.
Erickson, who reportedly has a history of domestic violence and threatening behavior, allegedly attempted to impregnate an adult woman, described by the defense as his best friend.
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