Indian-American Fort Bend County judge arrested on money-laundering charges

Fort Bend County judge KP George, a prominent Indian-American elected official, was arrested on Friday on two felony counts of money-laundering stemming from allegations of wire fraud and falsification of a campaign finance report.

George, a Democrat who has served as county judge since 2018 and won re-election in 2022, was booked into the county jail around 3.30 pm and released after posting USD 20,000 for bail. The charges carry a maximum prison term of 10 years.

He has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the indictments are politically driven.

According to court records and the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office, George is accused of laundering between USD 30,000 and USD 150,000.

Officials confirmed the new charges are unrelated to a separate 2023 indictment in which George and former chief of staff Taral Patel were accused of manufacturing fake racist attacks against George's 2022 campaign by creating fraudulent social media accounts.

"These charges are unrelated to the pending misdemeanour," the DA's office said in a statement. "Our office remains committed to the integrity our public deserves and the ethics to which all prosecutors are sworn."

In a statement on Friday, George denied any wrongdoing and claimed the indictments were politically driven. “I have full faith in the judicial system and will vigorously defend my innocence,” he said, accusing the DA's office of "improper treatment".

The District Attorney's Office rejected the claim and emphasised the investigation had been conducted in accordance with legal and ethical standards.

The arrest has intensified political pressure on George.

Fort Bend County Treasurer Bill Rickert publicly called for his resignation, citing concern over "fake racism scandals" and now the money-laundering charges.