RICHMOND, Texas — A Fort Bend County jury found outgoing County Judge KP George guilty of money laundering on Friday, a third-degree felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and fines up to $10,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June, and George could also be removed from office once the judgment is entered, though an appeal could delay that process.
George, a native of India, made history in 2018 as the first person of color elected Fort Bend County judge. He now faces additional legal trouble with a misdemeanor charge for allegedly creating fake racist attacks against his own campaign, with trial set to begin in May.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that George misused campaign funds, transferring over $46,000 to his personal account for expenses including a home down payment and property taxes. Assistant District Attorney Charann Thompson described the scheme as a “highly sophisticated” plan orchestrated by an experienced financial planner and politician.
George’s defense attorney, Jared Woodfill, argued the case was politically motivated, accusing the district attorney’s office of ignoring relevant bank records from previous campaigns. Woodfill told jurors the trial amounted to a “political assassination” disguised as a criminal prosecution.
After the verdict, prosecutors pushed back on the defense’s claims. Assistant DA Brian Wice said the DA’s office, including District Attorney Brian Middleton, “deserves an apology” from George’s team.
George was first elected as a Democrat in 2018, reelected in 2022, and switched to the GOP earlier this year, but lost the recent March primary with just 8.4% of the vote, finishing last in a five-candidate race.
