Crime

North Texas principal accused of illegally selling weight-loss drugs to teachers

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Get breaking news alerts at star-telegram.com/newsletters. Star-Telegram illustration/Ricky Moon photo

A former North Texas principal accused of illegally selling weight-loss drugs to teachers while working at Crowley Independent School District was arrested last month, according to court records.

Gerardo Moreno Mendez, 32, allegedly sold Tirzepatide, a weight-loss drug, in January to three Crowley ISD teachers, according to Tarrant County court records.

An arrest warrant was issued for Moreno Mendez on June 8. He faces a charge of delivery or offer of delivery of a dangerous drug, court records show.

Moreno Mendez “voluntarily turned himself in last month after learning that a warrant had been issued for his arrest,” Attorney Alex Thornton, representing Moreno Mendez, said in a statement. “By that time, the school district had already conducted its own investigation and reinstated him as principal.”

“Although we are limited in what we can disclose at this time, that is a significant fact that should not be overlooked,” Thornton said. “We hope the district attorney’s office will give this case the careful and thoughtful review it deserves.”

According to a statement from Crowley ISD, Moreno Mendez is no longer an employee and the district cannot comment on personnel matters involving former employees, Fox 4 reported.

Moreno Mendez was hired to serve as principal of Godley Middle School for the 2026-27 school year. After his arrest, the district requested and received his resignation, a Godley Independent School District spokesperson said in a statement.

“Because he had not yet begun employment with Godley ISD, he never worked in the district,” the statement read.

Moreno Mendez was released from the Tarrant County jail after posting a $10,000 bond, according to court records.

Shambhavi Rimal
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.
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