US News
Indiana man charged with using fake Chief Justice Roberts signature in attempt to drop criminal case
Federal prosecutors allege Joshua M. Culver repeatedly impersonated government officials and forged court documents.
The short version
- Joshua M. Culver was arrested in Colorado following an indictment by an Indiana federal grand jury on charges of federal officer impersonation and forging a judge's signature and seal.
- Prosecutors allege Culver submitted a fraudulent order bearing a forged signature of Chief Justice John Roberts and a fake Supreme Court seal to dismiss an Indiana criminal case against him.
- Indictments detail multiple other alleged impersonation schemes, including poses as an NSA agent, a Supreme Court Special Master, and a federal intelligence director to issue demands to court and law enforcement officials.
Key facts
- Joshua M. Culver, also known by the alias Maverick A. Young, was arrested on August 21 in Colorado following a federal indictment in Indiana.[Fox News]
- The federal indictment against Culver includes four counts of falsely impersonating a U.S. officer or employee and one count of using a forged federal judge's signature and court seal.[Fox News]
- Prosecutors allege Culver filed a document titled 'Order of Dismissal With Prejudice' in Grant County Superior Court in September 2025 using a counterfeit Supreme Court seal and Chief Justice John Roberts' forged signature.[Fox News]
- Indictment documents state Culver impersonated an NSA agent in September 2025 to request a welfare check from the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office and obtain employee details.[Fox News]
- In early 2026, Culver allegedly portrayed himself as a Supreme Court 'Special Master' and later as the 'Director of Tailored Access Operations' to demand case dismissals and warrant quashes in Lake County Superior Court.[Fox News]
- The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Colorado was appointed to represent Culver.[Fox News]