The Indiana State Police has arrested a Lowell woman accused of orchestrating a fraudulent expungement scheme, netting thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims. A three-year investigation revealed that individuals seeking to legally clear their criminal records were defrauded of significant sums.
Heather Ann Textor, 41, was arrested on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Authorities allege she accepted payments from individuals under the guise of managing their legal expungement cases.
According to the Indiana State Police, many victims remained unaware of the fraud for years. Textor faces a total of 42 felony charges and three misdemeanour counts, including fraud, forgery, counterfeiting, and theft.
The charges include five counts of Level 5 felony fraud against a financial institution, 13 counts of Level 6 felony forgery, and various counts of theft and counterfeiting. The investigation began in November 2023 after a resident of Gary sought to expunge his record through the Merrillville law firm of Weiss, Schmigdall and Hires.
The victim believed his case was being handled professionally, only to discover later that the legal process had never been initiated. ISP spokesperson Sgt.
Glen Fifield stated that documents submitted to the Indiana State Police expungement division in Indianapolis were discovered to be fraudulent completion letters. These documents were designed to look like official court orders, misleading both the victims and the authorities.
As of Friday, October 16, 2026, Textor remained in the Lake County jail on a $150,000 bond. Her legal team is preparing for a court appearance scheduled for next Tuesday, where the prosecution is expected to present further evidence regarding the scale of the operation.
Law enforcement officials have urged anyone who may have utilized Textor's services for expungement to contact the Indiana State Police. They believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward or who remain unaware that their records were never legally cleared.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local legal community, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the expungement process. Legal experts advise citizens to verify the credentials of any individual or firm claiming to represent them in court matters.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to audit the financial records associated with the scheme. The sheer volume of charges reflects the severity of the alleged breach of trust and the long-term impact on the victims' lives.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the focus remains on ensuring that those affected by this fraud receive justice and that the integrity of the expungement system is restored for all Indiana residents.