Man arrested for forging Chief Justice Roberts' signature to dismiss Indiana case
Joshua M. Culver was taken into federal custody after allegedly submitting a fake Supreme Court order bearing Chief Justice John Roberts' signature to have his Indiana criminal case thrown out.
A federal grand jury in Indiana indicted Joshua M. Culver, who also used the alias Maverick A. Young, on four counts of falsely impersonating a U.S. officer or employee and one count of forging a federal judge's signature and seal. Prosecutors allege that on Sept. 24, 2025, Culver submitted a fabricated "Order of Dismissal With Prejudice" to the Grant County Superior Court, falsely displaying Chief Justice John Roberts' signature and a counterfeit Supreme Court seal to try to end a pending criminal case.
The indictment further outlines earlier deceptions, including posing as an NSA agent to pressure the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office and as a "Special Master" to issue bogus directives to a Lake County judge. In February, he allegedly claimed to be the "Director of Tailored Access Operations" and filed another forged document demanding case dismissal and other actions. Culver was arrested in Colorado on Aug. 21, and the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Colorado will represent him.
Why it matters
The case highlights risks of fraudsters exploiting government symbols to manipulate the legal system.
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