Fort Bend County Judge KP George Arrested for Money Laundering!

KP George, a well-known Indian-American leader, was arrested on Friday. He is facing serious charges of money laundering related to wire fraud and lying about campaign finances. George, who has been the county judge since 2018 and won again in 2022, was taken to jail around 3:30 PM but was released after paying $20,000 bail. The law says he could go to prison for up to 10 years if found guilty.

George insists he did nothing wrong and says these charges are politically motivated. Court documents reveal that he is accused of laundering between $30,000 and $150,000. These charges are different from another case earlier this year, where George and his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, were accused of making fake racist stories to help George’s campaign by creating fake social media profiles.

The District Attorney’s Office said these new money laundering charges have nothing to do with the earlier case. They stated they are committed to maintaining trust and ethics in public service. George has publicly denied any guilt and claims the District Attorney’s Office treated him unfairly, but the DA insists they followed all legal rules in their investigation.

His arrest has caused rising pressure for him to step down. Fort Bend County Treasurer Bill Rickert called for his resignation, citing worries over “fake racism scandals” and the new money laundering claims. Former Constable Trever Nehls, who ran against him in 2022, agreed, saying he expected this indictment due to the dishonesty he witnessed during the campaign.

Many people, especially in Fort Bend County—which is among the fastest-growing and most diverse areas in Texas—are paying close attention to this situation. Dr. Elena Martinez, a political expert at the University of Houston, said that accusations of financial wrongdoing can really damage public trust even before a trial starts.

George’s office announced just one day before his arrest that his annual State of the County speech, planned for May 8, is now postponed with no explanation given. The District Attorney’s investigation is still ongoing.