Criminal Justice<\/p>\n
By Stephanie Francis Ward<\/p>\n
October 20, 2026, 12:12 pm CDT<\/p>\n
A receptionist at an Indiana law firm has found herself at the center of a sprawling criminal investigation, recently facing a staggering 42 felony charges following allegations that she orchestrated a sophisticated multi-year fraud scheme. According to investigators, the administrative employee systematically created fake expungement orders, forged judicial signatures, and pocketed money from vulnerable individuals who firmly believed they were officially represented by her employer.<\/p>\n
The accused, 37-year-old Heather Anne Textor of Lowell, Indiana, worked at the Merrillville-based law firm of Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires. Over a period spanning multiple years, Textor allegedly exploited her position at the front desk to intercept prospective clients, convincing them that she could handle their criminal record expungements outside of the firm’s standard intake procedures. <\/p>\n
According to details reported by CBS News and local regional outlets, Textor\u2019s alleged operation relied on personal contact at the reception desk, where she would greet individuals seeking legal relief. Unaware that they were being swindled, these individuals would hand over payment, trusting that the established firm would successfully process their legal matters. Instead, Textor allegedly provided them with entirely fabricated receipts and forged court documents, while keeping the majority of the financial proceeds for herself.<\/p>\n
Investigators uncovered that none of the victims’ names had ever been entered into the law firm\u2019s official client records management system. Furthermore, the leadership and attorneys at Weiss, Schmidgall and Hires were completely unaware of the illicit enterprise operating out of their front office. When contacted for comment regarding the unfolding legal proceedings, the firm did not immediately respond to inquiries from the ABA Journal.<\/p>\n
The intricate details of the alleged scheme came to light through a probable cause affidavit covered extensively by Regional News Source, a publication tracking news across northwest Indiana. According to the affidavit, the illegal activities took place over a significant window of time, running from 2019 through 2025. <\/p>\n
The investigation into Textor was ultimately triggered when a suspicious citizen brought an expungement petition to the Indiana State Police, believing the paperwork he had received might be fraudulent. Upon closer inspection, law enforcement officials determined the document bore serious irregularities. The man subsequently provided state police with three additional expungement petitions and two expungement letters he had obtained through the scheme. <\/p>\n
State police investigators examined the paperwork and discovered alarming discrepancies, including an identification number on one document that actually belonged to an entirely different individual. When authorities reached out to the various Indiana counties listed on the paperwork as having processed the expungements, court officials confirmed there was no official record of any such legal actions ever taking place. Investigators also determined that Textor had allegedly forged the signatures of presiding judges to lend an air of authenticity to the fraudulent court decrees.<\/p>\n
Financial records and victim testimonies outlined in the affidavit revealed how Textor allegedly handled the ill-gotten gains. In the case of the man who first alerted state police, the victim reported paying $1,626 for what he was led to believe was legitimate legal representation and court filings. While investigators found that Textor did deposit a partial payment of $626 into the law firm\u2019s legitimate business account, there was no accounting or record for the remaining balance of the funds.<\/p>\n
The fraudulent financial transactions reportedly extended into various digital and electronic payment methods. Investigators alleged that Textor used the law firm\u2019s physical credit card processing machine to run a $350 retainer payment from a client, only to secretly transfer those funds directly into her own personal PayPal account. In another instance, she allegedly directed a client to send an $850 payment through Cash App, falsely claiming it was the official account for 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.<\/p>\n
The human toll of the alleged scheme extends far beyond financial losses. According to reports from regional news outlet WANE, the deception had severe real-world consequences for some of the individuals who trusted Textor with their legal matters. Believing that their criminal records had been officially cleared and their driving privileges restored, several victims were subsequently pulled over, arrested, and even jailed after driving on suspended licenses because the promised expungements were never actually filed with the courts.<\/p>\n
As the criminal case against Textor proceeds through the judicial system, the Indiana State Police are continuing their outreach efforts. Authorities have strongly urged anyone who may have paid money directly to Textor for legal services, or who received questionable expungement documentation bearing her involvement, to come forward and contact the agency to assist with the ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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