FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A former Stafford County Sheriff's Office sergeant who was arrested in July on a federal child exploitation charge has been indicted on two felony counts, including a new possession charge involving images and videos investigators said were found on his cellphone.
A federal grand jury in Alexandria indicted Justin Thomas Lee Forman, 37, of Fredericksburg, on Thursday, on one count of receipt of a visual depiction involving the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and one count of possession of such material.
The indictment replaces the criminal complaint underlying Forman's July 30 arrest. Forman remains in federal custody after a judge earlier this month denied his request to overturn a detention order. His arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, before U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff in Alexandria.
The first count alleges that between about June 8 and July 6, 2023, Forman knowingly received or attempted to receive images involving a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct through an internet-enabled encrypted messaging application.
That charge stems from the same conduct detailed in the FBI affidavit supporting Forman's arrest. Investigators said Forman's Telegram account paid for and received child sexual abuse material. The affidavit alleges that in July 2023, his account arranged a $25 payment through PayPal before receiving videos that appeared to contain child sexual abuse material.
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The newly added second count alleges that on July 30, 2026, Forman knowingly possessed digital videos and images involving prepubescent children and children younger than 12. Prosecutors said those files were discovered on an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and were separate from the material underlying the receipt charge.
The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice seeking Forman's iPhone and potentially other property connected to the alleged offenses if he is convicted.
As Patch previously reported, the FBI investigation began in June after investigators received a tip about an account associated with Forman allegedly being used to obtain child sexual abuse material. Forman was a patrol sergeant with the Stafford County Sheriff's Office during the period under investigation and lived in Fredericksburg, according to the FBI affidavit.
FBI agents executed federal search warrants July 30 at Forman's Fredericksburg home, on his person and for electronic devices. Investigators seized about 16 electronic devices, including an iPhone, according to the affidavit.
Forman was ordered detained pending trial following an Aug. 3 hearing. At that hearing, a federal magistrate judge found probable cause and granted the government's request that Forman remain in custody.
Forman subsequently asked U.S. District Court to revoke the detention order and release him under conditions. Following arguments on Sept. 17, Nachmanoff denied the request and remanded Forman to federal custody.
The Sept. 24 indictment formally moved the case into U.S. District Court under case number 1:26-cr-00175-MSN. Both charges are felonies.
An indictment contains allegations, not findings of guilt. Forman is presumed innocent unless proved guilty.
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