A Colorado man has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly using a forged signature of Chief Justice John Roberts and a counterfeit Supreme Court seal in an attempt to get his Indiana criminal case dismissed. Joshua M. Culver, who also reportedly used the alias "Maverick A. Young," was arrested last Friday after a federal grand jury in Indiana indicted him on multiple charges.
The indictment includes four counts of falsely impersonating a U.S. officer or employee and one count related to the use of a forged federal judge's signature and court seal. Prosecutors allege that on September 24, 2025, Culver filed a document titled "Order of Dismissal With Prejudice" in a pending criminal case against him in Grant County Superior Court, Indiana.
This alleged scheme was not Culver's first attempt to impersonate a federal official, according to prosecutors. Five days before the alleged forgery of Roberts' signature, Culver is accused of posing as a National Security Agency agent when contacting the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office. In this instance, he allegedly used his purported authority to request a welfare check on his daughter and sought information about her location. He also reportedly threatened adverse action against the department.
Further allegations state that on September 20, 2025, Culver contacted the workplace of an individual identified only as "Individual A." He allegedly falsely identified himself as a federal agent, claimed the person was obstructing a federal investigation of a child kidnapping, and stated the individual could be arrested for a federal felony. Culver also allegedly urged the person's employer to intervene.
Months later, in January 2026, Culver is said to have portrayed himself as a "Special Master enforcing orders of the United States Supreme Court" in communications directed to a Lake County Superior Court judge and the county clerk. Prosecutors claim Culver asserted his authority to issue orders and warrants, demanding actions such as changes to vital records and the dismissal of cases against him. He also allegedly warned of arrests by U.S. Marshals for impeding or lying to a federal agent if officials did not comply.
In February 2026, Culver allegedly assumed another federal identity, claiming to be the "Director of Tailored Access Operations," a purported intelligence agency. The indictment details that Culver filed a document titled "OFFICIAL SENSITIVE: TAILORED ACCESS OPERATIONS (TAO) COMPLIANCE DIRECTIVE" in a case pending against him in Lake County Superior Court. This document, purportedly on official letterhead, described Culver as a "federal asset" and demanded under a "federal directive" that officials dismiss his case, quash warrants, and cooperate with a federal audit.
Bloomberg Law reported Culver's arrest on August 21. The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Colorado has been appointed to represent him.