Criminal Justice

By Stephanie Francis Ward
October 20, 2026, 12:12 pm CDT

A routine front desk greeting at an Indiana law office masked a sprawling, multi-year fraud operation that has now culminated in a staggering 42 felony charges against a firm secretary.

Heather Anne Textor, a 37-year-old resident of Lowell, Indiana, stands accused of orchestrating an elaborate deception that targeted vulnerable individuals seeking a fresh start through the legal expungement process. Investigators allege that instead of channeling prospective clients to her employers at the Merrillville-based law firm of Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires, Textor intercepted them right at the reception desk, pocketed their cash and digital payments, and handed them entirely fraudulent court documents and forged judicial signatures.

The fallout from the alleged scheme went far beyond financial loss. According to local reports from outlets including WANE, the fraudulent paperwork had devastating real-world consequences for victims who believed their criminal records had been legally cleared. In several instances, individuals who relied on Textor’s fake expungement orders were subsequently arrested or even jailed when police discovered they were driving on suspended licenses, operating under the false impression that their driving privileges and criminal histories had been successfully restored by the courts.

The multi-year fraud scheme, which authorities say unfolded between 2019 and 2025, operated with a calculated simplicity that allowed it to evade immediate detection by the law firm’s attorneys and management. According to information detailed in a police affidavit and reported by Regional News Source, victims would walk into the office believing they were initiating legitimate legal proceedings. Textor would greet them at the reception area, accept their payments under the guise that the firm would handle their record-clearing petitions, and subsequently provide them with forged receipts and fabricated court documents.

Behind the scenes, however, the transactions bore no resemblance to actual legal operations. None of the unsuspecting victims’ names were ever entered into the law firm’s official client records system. The attorneys and staff at Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires remained completely unaware of the illicit enterprise unfolding under their roof, according to law enforcement and media reports. When contacted by the ABA Journal regarding the shocking developments, representatives for the law firm did not immediately respond for comment.

The elaborate deception finally began to unravel when an observant citizen took an expungement petition to the Indiana State Police for verification. Law enforcement officials quickly determined that the document was fraudulent. Upon further inquiry, the man provided investigators with three additional expungement petitions and two expungement letters that he had received through his interactions at the law office.

A forensic review of these documents by the Indiana State Police revealed glaring discrepancies. Investigators discovered that an identification number printed on one of the documents actually belonged to an entirely different individual. Furthermore, when authorities checked with the specific county courts listed on the paperwork, court officials confirmed that there was no record whatsoever of the purported expungements. Textor is accused of systematically forging judges’ signatures to lend an air of authenticity to the bogus paperwork, thereby keeping her victims compliant and unaware of the crime.

The financial trail uncovered by investigators exposed a mix of cash handling and digital payment manipulation designed to siphon funds away from the firm. Court documents and local reporting illustrate how Textor allegedly juggled payments through both traditional methods and modern peer-to-peer financial applications.

In one specific case highlighted in the affidavit, a victim paid a total of $1,626 for what he believed was comprehensive legal work. While Textor deposited a fraction of that amount—specifically $626—into the firm’s official account to maintain a facade of legitimacy, the remaining balance vanished without a trace in the firm’s financial records.

Investigators also found that Textor utilized the law firm’s own credit card processing equipment for illicit purposes. In one instance, she allegedly processed a $350 retainer payment using the office machine, but instead of routing the funds to the business, she transferred the money directly into her personal PayPal account. The financial maneuvering extended to mobile payment platforms as well. Textor is accused of accepting an $850 payment through Cash App from a client, assuring them that the handle belonged to the law firm. Representatives for Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires later confirmed to investigators that the firm has never maintained or utilized a Cash App account.

The depth and duration of the alleged crimes prompted the Indiana State Police to launch a comprehensive investigation spanning multiple years. Because the deception directly targeted individuals seeking to clear past legal hurdles—often a critical step toward securing employment, housing, or driving privileges—authorities believe there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward.

As the criminal case against Textor proceeds through the judicial system, law enforcement officials are urging anyone who paid money directly to Heather Anne Textor for legal services or expungement assistance to contact the Indiana State Police immediately to aid in the ongoing investigation.