FORT BEND COUNTY – 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.
Recommended Videos
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.
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.”
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.”
Neither George nor Patel could be reached for comment. Judge KP George has not been charged with any crime, and Patel appears to still be running for office in Fort Bend County.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
