Fort Bend's Indian-American judge indicted for alleged money laundering

Fort Bend County Judge K P George, a prominent Indian-American Democrat who has held office since 2018, was arrested Friday on two felony counts of money laundering. The charges stem from allegations of wire fraud and falsifying a campaign finance report, with potential prison time of up to 10 years if convicted.

Court documents and statements from the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office allege George laundered an amount between USD 30,000 and USD 150,000. He was booked into the county jail around 3:30 p.m. and released shortly after, having posted USD 20,000 in bail.

The District Attorney's Office claimed that the charges announced Friday are separate from an earlier case. In 2023, George and his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, were indicted over accusations that they created fake social media accounts to manufacture racist attacks targeting George's 2022 re-election campaign.

“These charges are unrelated to the pending misdemeanour,” the DA’s office clarified. “Our office remains committed to the integrity our public deserves and the ethics to which all prosecutors are sworn.”

Political fallout was swift. County Treasurer Bill Rickert urged George to resign, referencing both the 2023 scandal and the current charges. “Fake racism scandals” and the latest indictment, Rickert said, are cause for serious concern. Former Precinct 4 Constable Trever Nehls, who ran against George in 2022, also weighed in. “This indictment is not surprising. I saw during the campaign how lies and hate were used to manipulate voters,” he said.

Responding to the arrest, George insisted he is innocent and framed the indictment as politically motivated. “I have full faith in the judicial system and will vigorously defend my innocence,” he said in a statement released Friday. He further accused the DA’s office of “improper treatment.”

In response, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed the claim, stating the investigation was carried out in compliance with all legal and ethical obligations.

The news has sent shockwaves through Fort Bend County, one of Texas’s fastest-growing and most demographically diverse regions. Political analyst Elena Martinez of the University of Houston noted that “an indictment like this, especially involving alleged financial misconduct, can severely erode public trust even before a trial.” She added that the case is likely to draw attention beyond the county line due to Fort Bend’s rising national profile.

Adding to the intrigue, George's office had announced just a day prior to the arrest that his annual State of the County address, originally planned for May 8, was being postponed indefinitely. No reason was provided at the time.

Authorities confirmed that the investigation is still underway.