Federal prosecutors allege former Crosby Elementary School Principal Wendy Bailey urged Michael Raymond Roell to change his legal name, then helped him conceal his former identity, a 2016 child-indecency charge and disciplinary history so Forney ISD would hire him as a special-education teacher.
A federal grand jury indicted Bailey and Roell, now legally named Johnathan Michael, on September 16. The seven-count indictment charges each with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. The federal charges concern an alleged hiring-fraud scheme. They do not charge Bailey with child abuse.
Indictment details alleged coordination
The indictment says Bailey and Roell had worked for Garland ISD at the same time. Roell applied to Forney ISD on August 7, 2025. Four days later, the district’s human resources office circulated his resume to principals, including Bailey.
Bailey allegedly responded with Roell’s photograph from an online article about his old criminal charge and wrote, “No thank you. LOLOLOL! Lelt’s [sic] try again. :).”
The indictment says Bailey later sent Roell an interview invitation. On August 19, Roell allegedly texted her, “I got the paperwork for the name change ready. I was going to file it as soon as you were willing to hire me.”
Bailey allegedly replied, “It’s only my opinion, but if you want to work in education, its [sic] going to have to be done before you apply anywhere else.”
Roell legally changed his name to Johnathan Michael in September 2025, then submitted a second application on September 26. The indictment says he denied using other names, denied ever facing a sexual-harassment complaint and selected a statement saying he had never been charged, adjudicated or convicted over an inappropriate relationship with a minor. Prosecutors allege he also gave a false account of an earlier nonrenewal.
On October 6, 2025, Bailey allegedly offered to recommend Roell for the job while noting that she did not hold final hiring authority. Forney ISD offered him the Crosby special-education position on October 8 and hired him on October 17 at an annual salary of about $67,700, according to the indictment and DOJ.
Earlier charge ended in acquittal
The indictment says Dallas County authorities arrested Roell in 2016 on one felony count of indecency with a child involving sexual conduct. It says the allegations accused him of touching at least one student in the groin area and watching the student use the restroom. Garland ISD then terminated him.
A related sworn federal complaint clarifies the outcome: A Dallas County court acquitted Roell in March 2018. He therefore had no conviction in that case. The new indictment alleges his Forney application nevertheless falsely denied that authorities had ever charged him.
State allegations remain separate
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Rangers arrested Roell in late May 2026 after allegations of misconduct involving special-education students at Crosby. Kaufman County’s current jail record lists two counts of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury and one count of child grooming. The record shows no disposition, and the charges remain allegations.
State filings allege Roell used force against two students during separate incidents in January and February. Available records did not state the factual basis for the child-grooming count.
Bailey also faces separate state charges alleging child endangerment and failure to report abuse, as DX reported in August. The new federal indictment charges her only with conspiracy and wire fraud, not child abuse, grooming or a reporting offense.
Forney ISD had not issued a new public response to the indictment by Saturday. In an August statement, the district said it was cooperating with investigators and called the alleged conduct unacceptable.
Federal initiative targets passing the trash
DOJ brought the case under Project Safe Schools, a federal initiative that targets failures to report educator misconduct and the practice known as “passing the trash.” DOJ defines that practice as educators with known misconduct issues moving between schools without disclosure of their history.
Prosecutors allege the name change, false application answers and Bailey’s recommendation defeated hiring safeguards intended to surface that history before Roell returned to a classroom.
“This indictment demonstrates the lengths these two defendants went to circumvent a hiring process meant to keep our schools and students safe,” FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said.
Roell has remained in federal custody since August 27, according to DOJ. If convicted, both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison and forfeiture of proceeds connected to the alleged offenses. An indictment contains allegations, and both defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Provided by Dallas Express
