A disturbing federal case out of the Midwest is drawing renewed attention right now after one of the men at the center of the investigation just officially pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge — and the details of this thing are REALLY disturbing all the way across the board.
According to federal authorities via WDIV News in Michigan and multiple other media outlets across the midwestern US, former Detroit-area medical resident Lincoln Erickson (not pictured) entered a guilty plea in late May to a charge involving the receipt of child pornography.
But that new guilty plea just scratched the surface on a WILD case that prosecutors claim stems from a much larger investigation that uncovered an online network of men allegedly sharing child sexual abuse material and discussing the sexual exploitation of children.
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The developments have shocked many observers not only because of the nature of the allegations, but because several of the people accused held respected professional positions. Investigators say the broader case eventually linked together Erickson, the doctor, along with a licensed therapist, an attorney, and a man from Ohio whose arrest reportedly set everything in motion.
So, this all started about a year ago. Per WDIV and others, authorities say the investigation began in March 2025 when Toledo resident Brett Tooman (pictured above, left, in his mugshot) was arrested after allegedly arranging to meet what he believed were children, purportedly for sexual contact. According to court filings, Tooman had been communicating with an undercover FBI agent posing as a parent. Investigators allege that during those conversations, Tooman discussed sexual acts involving minors and shared child sexual abuse material.
Ew…
When Tooman arrived at a planned meeting location, authorities arrested him. What followed, according to investigators, was a deeper examination of his communications and digital activity.
That investigation allegedly led agents to psychotherapist Jeremy Brian Tacon (pictured above, right, in his mugshot), attorney Joshua Ronnebaum, and Erickson. Federal authorities claim the men exchanged messages and materials involving child sexual abuse content over an extended period of time.
Court documents describe deeply troubling conversations allegedly recovered during the investigation, per news outlets. Prosecutors claim some of the communications involved discussions about abusing children, sharing illegal material, and expressing sexual interest in minors. And get this — because of the graphic nature of the allegations, many details contained in court records have not been widely repeated by law enforcement organizations or news outlets.
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Erickson was arrested by the FBI in December of last year while working as a medical resident at a Detroit hospital, as we noted up top. According to investigators, evidence recovered from another suspect’s phone allegedly connected Erickson to the larger case.
Federal prosecutors have alleged that Erickson exchanged messages discussing child abuse, requested additional illegal material, and communicated with individuals connected to minors with the rest of the men in the group, including Tacon.
For example, in one alleged exchange, the Toledo suspect reportedly sent a text to Tacon about how he wished the men could:
“…find a kiddo and have our way together”
And do that, Tacon allegedly replied:
“F**k yes brother.”
OMG…
During other court proceedings, prosecutors also presented evidence regarding interactions they said involved the father of several children.
Defense attorneys for some of the men had previously argued that some communications amounted to fantasy or role play rather than real-world conduct. Prosecutors strongly disputed that characterization, and a judge overseeing the proceedings expressed concern about the nature of the allegations presented in court.
The therapist named in the investigation, Tacon, was employed at a counseling practice at the time authorities executed a search warrant. Meanwhile, Ronnebaum, an attorney known in professional and community circles in Detroit, was also detained as investigators examined electronic devices seized during the probe.
Now, the guilty plea from Erickson marks a major development in the federal case. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September of this year, and will be required to register as a sex offender. The broader investigation and related criminal proceedings involving other defendants continue to move through the court system.
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And at this point, as more information continues to emerge, the case remains a grim reminder that crimes involving the exploitation of children can surface in places many people would never expect.
For now, federal authorities continue to pursue the remaining aspects of the investigation while the courts determine the fate of those charged.
In the meantime, the allegations have generated widespread public outrage, particularly because several of the individuals accused occupied positions that typically carry a high degree of public trust.
This story is right now spreading rapidly online, too, so expect to see a TON more viral posts upcoming about this awful situation on social media over the next few weeks as more people learn about these purported horrors.
Ugh. How awful…
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via Lucas County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office]