KPRC 2 Investigates obtains new search warrants in the investigation of a former Fort Bend County commissioner candidate who is accused of using online personas on social media to spread insults targeted at himself and others to garner sympathy during his campaign.
Taral Patel is facing nine felony and misdemeanor charges related to the scandal. KP George, Patel’s former boss and the current Fort Bend County Judge, has also been charged with a misdemeanor charge tied to misrepresenting his identity on social media.
The new search warrants, obtained by KPRC 2 Investigates’ Mario Diaz, focus specifically on Patel’s efforts to influence his campaign for Fort Bend County Pct. 3 commissioner against longtime incumbent Andy Meyers.
The warrants were dated for Dec. 4 and 5. In one of the warrants, investigators describe how Patel personified a woman named “Cynthia Brooks” on social media to spread insults about Fort Bend County Pct. 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy.
The other warrant references a search of digital servers connected to a Canva account that allegedly belonged to Patel. Canva is a website used for graphic design, and investigators believe the account linked to Patel was used to create fake racist flyers for social media.
Patel was defeated by Meyers in the Pct. 3 commissioner race in November. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Jan. 31.