A former legal secretary in Indiana is facing 42 felony charges and three misdemeanour charges after a three-year police investigation into alleged forged court orders, missing legal fees and fake criminal record expungements. According to a probable cause affidavit reported by Region News Source, 37-year-old Heather Ann Textor of Lowell was arrested after clients who paid to clear their criminal records allegedly received fake court documents and forged letters from state officials instead. The investigation was led by Sergeant Joe White of the Indiana State Police Organized Crime and Corruption Unit. It began in October 2023, when a resident of Gary hand-delivered a suspected fake expungement petition to state police officers. A check of the records showed that the unique identification number on the man’s completion letter belonged to someone else. Court clerks in Lake and Porter counties also confirmed that they had no records matching the case numbers or the man’s name listed in the documents. Court records cited by Region News Source state that Textor worked as a legal secretary at the Merrillville law firm Weiss, Schmidgall, and Hires. Investigators believe the alleged scheme took place between November 2019 and October 2025.
Unauthorised diversion of client funds
The police affidavit describes a pattern of suspected financial wrongdoing involving cash, credit cards and mobile payment apps. In one case, a client paid Textor a $1,000 cash retainer in November 2019 and later made additional payments. The law firm’s accounting records showed small filing fees, but the $1,000 cash payment did not appear in the company’s records. The receipt book linked to the payment was also missing. Textor allegedly used her personal electronic payment accounts to divert money that was meant for the law firm. According to police records: One client provided debit card details for a $375 retainer payment. However, only $24.84 was processed through the firm’s official system, while $350.16 was sent directly to Textor’s personal PayPal account. Another client made a $1,000 debit card payment. Of that amount, $37.58 went to the firm, while $962.42 was transferred to Textor’s PayPal account. A third client paid $850 through Cash App after Textor identified the account as the firm’s official business account. Lawyers at Weiss, Schmidgall, and Hires told investigators that the firm had never opened or approved business accounts on PayPal or Cash App. They also said the firm did not accept legal fees through either service.
Serious consequences for clients who trusted the documents
The fake legal filings had serious effects on clients who believed their criminal records had been cleared or their driving privileges restored. In one case reported by Region News Source, a client paid $850 to resolve a driving suspension. Textor told her she would email the court to deal with the matter. The woman did not know that her licence was still suspended. Police later pulled her over in Valparaiso, Munster and Lowell. Her vehicle was impounded after each stop. In August 2023, an automatic licence plate reader flagged her vehicle, leading to her arrest on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court. She spent time in the Lake County Jail before being transferred to the Porter County Jail. Her total financial losses reached $2,210. Another client received an order granting special driving privileges that carried a judge’s stamped signature. The judge later told police investigators that the signature stamp had been used without the judge’s knowledge or permission.
Missing files and forged signatures uncovered
During a search of the law office, state police detectives found four large reusable shopping bags hidden in an upstairs storage area. Inside, investigators discovered missing law firm accounting records, client files and the missing receipt book covering cash payments from 2019. The bags also contained documents presented as expungement orders bearing another client’s name. Investigators also found a spiral notebook with handwritten credit card numbers, expiration dates and security codes. Judges whose names appeared on various expungement petitions told detectives that they had not signed or approved the documents given to clients. The law firm also reported an unpaid balance of $2,172.92 on a company Staples credit card. Some purchases were for ordinary office supplies, but police noted that the charges also included two iPad minis and personal items that Textor was not authorised to buy.
Criminal charges filed
State prosecutors formally filed 45 charges against Textor in Lake County on October 14, 2026. According to court filings reported by Region News Source, the charges include:
- Five Level 5 felony counts of fraud against a financial institution.
- Thirteen Level 6 felony counts of forgery with intent to defraud.
- Two Level 6 felony counts of counterfeiting.
- Fifteen Level 6 felony counts of fraud under various legal provisions that increase the severity of the charges.
- Seven Level 6 felony counts of theft involving amounts between $750 and $50,000.
- One Class A misdemeanor count of fraud.
- Two Class A misdemeanor counts of theft.
Indiana State Police released a public statement thanking the dozens of affected victims, local court clerks, financial institutions and the law firm Weiss, Schmidgall, and Hires for helping with the investigation. Police warned that there could be more victims who do not yet know that their legal filings or expungement orders were fake. Detective Sergeant Joe White has urged anyone who believes they may have been targeted to contact Indiana State Police directly at 219-696-6242. Textor was taken to the Lake County Jail after her arrest. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Prosecutors have said that additional charges are still being considered as investigators examine digital evidence and bank records.
