Fort Bend County, TX — Taral Patel, a former candidate for County Commissioner and longtime political aide in Fort Bend, pleaded guilty this week to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a deceptive online scheme tied to his 2022 campaign.

According to court records, Patel admitted to creating fake social media accounts and posting racially charged messages aimed at discrediting his own campaign — an effort prosecutors say was designed to manipulate public sentiment. The plea deal includes Patel’s acknowledgment that one of these incidents occurred in collaboration with Fort Bend County Judge KP George, who now faces similar allegations.

Patel, who had previously served as Judge George’s chief of staff and also worked on his campaign, appeared in court Tuesday but declined to make a public statement. However, in a written apology shared with the media, he expressed remorse for his actions and asked the community for forgiveness.

“I’ve let down the people who believed in me,” Patel wrote. “My choices have come with painful consequences for my family, my career, and my reputation. I take full responsibility and hope to move forward with humility.”

As part of the plea agreement, Patel has agreed to cooperate with the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office as they continue their investigation. Judge George is currently facing one charge of misrepresentation of identity, along with two separate allegations related to money laundering. His attorney, Jared Woodfill, maintains that the charges against the judge are politically driven and claims there is no evidence directly tying George to Patel’s actions.

“This was a legal decision made by Mr. Patel to put an end to a difficult chapter,” Woodfill said. “We’re confident that Judge George will be cleared once all the facts come to light.”

Calls for accountability have intensified in recent weeks, with some local Democratic leaders urging Judge George to step down while legal proceedings continue.