A Farmington Hills physician who pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge is among several recent Metro Detroit arrests that FBI officials say reflect a growing threat to children online.

Lincoln Duvall Erickson, 32, of Farmington Hills pleaded guilty on May 20 to receipt of child pornography in the Eastern District of Michigan, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. FBI agents had arrested Erickson on Dec. 10, 2025, at a Detroit-area hospital where he worked as a medical resident.

Agents found videos of minors engaged in sex acts and AI-generated pornography depicting nude children on Erickson's phone, the DOJ said. He also attempted to convince another man to allow him to bathe the man's children and made plans to travel to the man's home for that purpose.

Erickson is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday, Sept. 15, in Detroit federal court. The charge carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $250,000. He will be required to register as a sex offender.

FBI warns of 'uptick' in predator arrests

FBI Detroit Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Marty D'Amico told WDIV Local 4 on Thursday, July 23, that the bureau is seeing an "uptick" in child predator arrests both nationally and in the Detroit region. He attributed the increase to new technology, expanded resources, and greater public awareness.

"I would say it's maybe not easier, but they just have more venues," D'Amico said. "Everyone has a device. Everyone has iPads. Everyone has Apple watches or any other sort of electronic device. People are on games, and so there's more platforms for children to be exploited."

Erickson's case grew out of a multi-state investigation that began with the March 29, 2025, arrest of Brett Tooman in Toledo, Ohio. Tooman allegedly traveled there intending to sexually abuse a 7-year-old girl and a 6-month-old infant, both fictitious personas created by investigators. His arrest led to three other men, including Erickson, who allegedly shared explicit materials with one another.

Two other Metro Detroit men face federal child pornography charges. Michael Wendt, 38, of Grosse Ile was taken into custody in late July after a federal search warrant turned up 11 images meeting the federal definition of child pornography, according to court records. In April, Audy Mugally Al-Saidi, 26, of Dearborn was arrested after FBI investigators identified more than 35,000 files of investigative interest on his devices, according to the criminal complaint.

Sextortion targeting children

D'Amico described sextortion as a fast-growing threat in which predators extort children for intimate photos, then blackmail them with threats of exposure to family or social media followers. Victims are often pressured to pay through online currency or gift cards.

The threat is worldwide, D'Amico said, and the FBI is still working to keep pace with actors operating across borders.

D'Amico urged families not to dismiss warning signs, even without a screenshot or proof. He said tips submitted to local police can connect to existing FBI investigations through shared databases.

Residents can report concerns to local police, submit tips at tips.fbi.gov, or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.