A Stafford County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been arrested on a federal charge accusing him of receiving child sexual abuse material, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.
Federal prosecutors allege that Justin Thomas Lee Forman, 37, of Fredericksburg, used the messaging platform Telegram beginning at least as early as 2023 to solicit, purchase and receive child sexual abuse material from another Telegram account.
According to the criminal complaint, Forman allegedly received links and files containing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.
The investigation led the FBI to execute a search warrant at Forman’s Fredericksburg home on July 30. During the search, agents seized approximately 16 electronic devices. Forman was arrested the same day.
He made his initial appearance in federal court on July 31. During a preliminary and detention hearing, Forman entered a plea of not guilty.
The charge remains an allegation, and Forman is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Forman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors required by law.
The investigation remains ongoing.