A former doctor in Detroit has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography after a series of disturbing messages revealed his sick fantasies to sexually abuse children. 

Lincoln Erickson, 32, of Farmington Hills pleaded guilty on Tuesday to receiving child pornography after an investigation uncovered a string of horrific messages, leading to the arrest of him and three other men. 

Erickson, a former medical resident at a Detroit hospital, was detained on December 10, 2025 after the arrest of Brett Tooman in Ohio unveiled a network of child pornography. 

Tooman was taken into custody on March 29, 2025, after he allegedly traveled to Toledo to sexually abuse a seven-year-old girl and a six-month-old infant that he believed existed, according to court documents seen by the Daily Mail. 

Following a disturbing text chain with an undercover investigator, Tooman's arrest led to the uncovering and arrest of Jeremy Brian Tacon and Joshua Ronnebaum. 

Ronnebaum's arrest revealed an alleged text thread with Erickson via text message and Telegram, an encrypted chat app, the criminal complaint stated. 

That November, Erickson was said to have told Ronnebaum that he 'f***ed a boy' and fantasized about having a child with another man, which they could 'all just f***' and groom 'from baby to adulthood,' according to the filing. 

'Start them young,' a message from Erickson said, Click on Detroit reported. 

The complaint also said that the doctor admitted to sexually abusing a three-year-old, who is the child of a friend of his, by forcing the child to perform oral sex. 

A series of graphic fantasies were shared from Erickson to Ronnebaum, as well as photographs of child pornography, the filing stated. 

Erickson was also found to have been previously charged with domestic violence in 2024. 

Upon his arrest on December 9, 2025, Erickson allegedly admitted to receiving child pornography that he believed to have been generated by artificial intelligence from a man in Chicago, according to the complaint. 

After FBI agents seized Erickson's phone, messages on Telegram were revealed between other users which saw the doctor type: 'Bro, I love other pedophiles. So hot.'

'Love being a pedo,' Erickson said in another message, according to Click on Detroit. 

A hearing on December 16, 2025, also saw prosecutors present evidence of Erickson's interactions with the father of three minors, which included phone sex and in-person meetings and disturbing messages about the children, the outlet reported. 

Erickson also allegedly attempted to impregnate an adult woman, said to be his best friend, according to the outlet. 

'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,' US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr said.

Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said: '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. Our FBI Detroit Crimes Against Child Squad, alongside our partner task force officers from the Detroit Police Department, continues to do outstanding work to safeguarding our youth and holding accountable those who seek to harm our most vulnerable citizens in Michigan.'

The former doctor's guilty plea holds a prison sentence of at least five to 20 years behind bars and a fine of up to $250,000. 

Erickson is set to be sentenced on September 15, 2026, and will be required to register as a sex offender.