Medina, TN — Jay Richard Hassman, 52, of Medina, Tennessee, forged a federal court document in a brazen attempt to halt collection actions from creditors, landing himself in federal prison. The scheme relied on a fake restraining order bearing the forged digital signature of U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, falsely claiming creditors were barred from pursuing foreclosure, eviction, or utility shutoffs until May 19, 2016.
Hassman, facing mounting debt, didn’t just stall—he weaponized the judicial system. The phony order demanded creditors negotiate his obligations and issue refunds on fees already collected. He distributed the fraudulent document to multiple creditors, banking on the authority of a federal judge’s name to buy time and extract concessions through deception.
Courts don’t bluff. When the forged order surfaced, federal authorities moved fast. The U.S. District Court in the Western District of Tennessee confirmed the signature was a fraud, triggering an FBI investigation. The ruse unraveled quickly under scrutiny, exposing Hassman’s attempt to manipulate the legal process for personal gain.
On February 28, 2018, U.S. Senior District Judge Samuel H. Mays, Jr. handed down an eight-month federal prison sentence. The term runs consecutive to an 11-month sentence Hassman is already serving in Tipton County on unrelated charges. Following incarceration, he will face three years of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean DeCandia, representing the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. Authorities emphasized that impersonating court orders or forging judicial signatures violates federal law and undermines public trust in the justice system.
Federal investigators from the FBI led the probe, underscoring the seriousness of tampering with court documents. While the scheme was short-lived, the consequences are long-term: a federal felony record, prison time, and scrutiny for years to come. In the world of financial fraud, some debts can’t be forged away.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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