Sergeant Joe White of the Indiana State Police Organized Crime and Corruption Unit led a three-year probe that exposed a web of fraud at the Merrillville law firm Weiss, Schmidgall, and Hires. The investigation kicked off in October 2023 when a Gary resident hand-delivered a suspected fake expungement petition to officers. A quick check revealed the unique identification number on the man’s completion letter belonged to someone else entirely. Court clerks in Lake and Porter counties confirmed they had no records matching the case numbers or the man’s name.
The scheme, alleged to have run from November 2019 to October 2025, involved Textor using personal electronic payment accounts to siphon money meant for the firm. In one specific instance, a client paid a $1,000 retainer via debit card. Only $37.58 hit the firm’s official system. The remaining $962.42 went directly to Textor’s personal PayPal account. Lawyers at the firm told investigators they had never authorized business accounts on PayPal or Cash App.
The human cost was severe for clients who trusted the forged documents. One woman paid $850 to resolve a driving suspension, only to discover her license was still validly suspended. Police pulled her over in Valparaiso, Munster, and Lowell, impounding her vehicle each time. An automatic license plate reader flagged her car in August 2023, leading to her arrest on an outstanding warrant. She spent time in Lake County Jail before transfer to Porter County Jail, totaling $2,210 in financial losses.
Detectors found four large reusable shopping bags hidden in an upstairs storage area during a search of the law office. Inside lay missing accounting records, client files, and a spiral notebook containing handwritten credit card numbers and security codes. Judges whose names appeared on various expungement petitions stated they had not signed or approved the documents. The firm also reported an unpaid balance of $2,172.92 on a company Staples card, which included unauthorized purchases of two iPad minis and personal items.
State prosecutors formally filed the 45 charges against Textor in Lake County on October 14, 2026. The indictment includes five Level 5 felony counts of fraud against a financial institution, thirteen Level 6 felony counts of forgery with intent to defraud, and two Level 6 felony counts of counterfeiting. The remaining fifteen Level 6 felony counts cover various fraud provisions. Textor’s next court appearance will determine bail conditions and the timeline for trial preparation.