An Indian-origin judge in Texas, who was found guilty of money laundering and subsequently suspended, has been sentenced to 180 days in jail and five years of probation. Judge Maggie Perez-Jaramillo of the 458th District Court sentenced suspended Fort Bend County Judge KP George to the statutory maximum of 10 years in prison for his third-degree felony conviction but probated the sentence. The terms include six months in the Fort Bend County Jail followed by five years of community supervision.
Conditions of Probation
Other conditions of George's probation include completing 200 hours of community service, completing an anti-theft class, not maintaining any active social media accounts, not holding employment in any fiduciary capacity, paying a $5,000 fine and court fees, and withholding contact with former chief of staff Taral Patel, who pleaded guilty last year to two counts of misrepresentation of identity by a political candidate.
Details of the Crime
In 2018, George misrepresented his campaign finance reports. He transferred more than $46,000 in campaign funds to his personal account and used the money for personal expenses, including making a down payment on a house and paying his property taxes.
Political Background
George was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, both times as a Democrat. After he was criminally indicted, he switched to the Republican Party but failed to secure the GOP nomination for the post.
George also faces a misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity for allegedly creating fake racist attacks against his own campaign. A trial in that case is scheduled for July. When he ran for re-election in 2022, he posted as a Facebook user named 'Antonia Scalywag' to attack his own campaign.
Background of KP George
Born in Kerala, India, KP George came to the United States and built a career as a financial planner. He later became a US citizen. He served on the Fort Bend Independent School District board before being elected Fort Bend County Judge in 2018. He was the first person of South Asian descent to hold this position.
