RICHMOND, Texas – One of Fort Bend County’s top officials has been ordered to turn over his “cellular communication devices.”
A search warrant from the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office alleges that Fort Bend County Judge KP George coordinated a social media hoax with his former chief of staff Taral Patel.
Judge KP George was first elected in 2018, and Patel served as his chief of staff until March 2021. Patel left that position when he received a “Presidential Appointment from the Biden-Harris Administration.” In May 2023, Patel returned to Fort Bend County and announced his candidacy for Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 3.
Patel was arrested in June on a felony charge of online misrepresentation, and a Class A misdemeanor charge of identity misrepresentation. Court records state he created fake social media accounts to post discouraging remarks about his opponent, Republican Andy Meyers, and made racial attacks against himself.
“Taral Patel was indicted on four felonies and four misdemeanors recently for instilling hate and racism against all different cultures and religions,” said attorney Husein Hadi. “KP George, now through this search warrant, has been found to have known about the conduct of Taral Patel and have conspired with Taral Patel in creating the fake post that they both used to get more donations and to continue instilling hate and racism in our community.”
Sources said Patel did it to garner sympathy from voters and boost his candidacy. He allegedly posted under the screenname “Antonio Scalywag,” and used a profile photo of another man without his consent.
Fort Bend County Judge KP George is now accused of coordinating with Patel to make fake posts on his own social media pages in 2022.
During his 2022 re-election campaign (which he ultimately won) George claimed he was being victimized by “racist and xenophobic” attacks.
According to the warrant, several of those attacks were from “Antonio Scalywag.”
“The worst part about all of this is KP George and Tara Patel attacked themselves and they attacked their own family,” Husein said. “KP [George] had Taral through the evidence that we have here, attack his wife, attack his life, attack his kids.”
On September 18, 2022, the warrant states Patel texted KP George, “I am posting the image now,” the same day a photo collage was posted to George’s page. The collage contained several derogatory messages, and one of those messages was from Patel’s fake account according to the warrant.
On September 26, 2022, the warrant states Patel texted George again, saying, “Let me know if you approve, I’ll share this post.”
The warrant states the text message contained a screenshot of a Facebook comment thread that included one from “Antonio Scalywag.”
“This is explosive because it now is no longer just Taral Patel, but it’s a conspiracy now amongst two individuals to defraud and defrauding Fort Bend County as a whole,” Husein said.
Judge KP George released the following statement regarding the search warrant:
“I have fully complied with the search warrant executed, during which my cellular devices and computer were seized. I was informed, by the Texas Rangers and the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, that these items were requested as part of an investigation where I am considered a witness, not a target. I have not been charged with any crime, nor do I expect to be. While I respect the legal process, and willingly complied with the search warrant, I must express my deep disappointment in how this event was conducted. Had I been treated with courtesy and respect; I would have voluntarily surrendered the requested items in person to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office. Instead, the aggressive and unnecessary approach used has fueled unwarranted speculation, led to public slander, and created an unsafe environment for both my family and me. I have retained legal counsel to ensure my rights are fully protected throughout this process.”
While George has not formally been charged, Patel is already facing several felony charges for misrepresentation of identity.
Could Fort Bend County’s highest power also face the same charges?
“There might be issue on statue limitations...on posting these comments that came out,” Husein said. “But, he can face the same charges potentially that Antonio Scalywag - Taral Patel - is facing for misdemeanor violations and felony violations for being a coconspirator or a coconspirator to instilling the hate and racism under these fictitious aliases.”
The Fort Bend County Republican Party Chairman Bobby Eberle released the following statement about the incident:
“When Democrat KP George claimed in 2022 to be the victim of racist social media posts, something just didn’t feel right. Fast forward to this election cycle, and his former chief of staff and now Democrat candidate for Precinct 3 Commissioner, Taral Patel, claimed the exact same thing. Both blamed their Republican opponents and supporters. Taral Patel has been indicted for his alleged online impersonation and sending fake racist messages to himself, and now it is alleged that Patel and George colluded to do the same thing in 2022 in KP George’s race. This behavior is deeply corrupt and shameful. These allegations amount to election interference by playing off the worst Democrat tactic: stoking racial division. The Fort Bend County Democrat Party remains silent as allegations and indictments continue to pile up. Fort Bend County voters should reject the politics of racial division and election interference. These Democrats do not deserve to ever represent Fort Bend County, and it begs the question: In this current regime, how many more Democrats are involved? I encourage Attorney General Paxton and the Texas Rangers to step in and investigate the entire Fort Bend County Democrat Party and see where this all leads.”