FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Fort Bend County court records reveal that Taral Patel, the Democratic nominee for Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner, was indicted on Tuesday by a Grand Jury on four felony counts of online impersonation.
Patel, who was arrested in June on a felony charge of online misrepresentation and a class-A misdemeanor charge of identity misrepresentation, is accused of creating fake social media accounts to post discouraging remarks about his opponent, Andy Meyers, and to direct racial attacks at himself.
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Sources said Patel did it to garner sympathy from voters and boost his candidacy.
According to court records, Patel created the social media accounts in October 2022 and continued to post on them through May 2024. On those accounts, he portrayed himself as someone he is not over the internet, a violation of the Texas Penal Code when done without proper consent and with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person according to the code.
Authorities say the acts of impersonation were done on an account allegedly created by Patel under a different persona, where he attacked candidates—including racial attacks on himself or claimed to work with them. He allegedly posted under the screenname “Antonio Scalywag.”
In August, KPRC 2 Investigates reported that Fort Bend County investigators issued 13 search warrants for Patel’s belongings, which covered the examination of half a dozen computers, a flash drive, a Google phone and various email accounts linked to Patel, including mountaingoatzrule@gmail.com.
That email in particular is reportedly connected to four accounts tied to Patel’s campaign and three accounts associated with Fort Bend County Judge KP George. Patel is the former Chief of Staff for Judge KP George. He left his position in March 2021 after receiving 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.’
Despite the felony indictments, Patel remains in the race and has not publicly addressed his arrest or the ongoing investigation.