HOUSTON – Fort Bend County investigators have served 13 search warrants in the last month in connection with Taral Patel, a candidate for Fort Bend County Commissioner – Precinct 3.
Patel was arrested in June for making false statements on the internet and making false statements of identity (a Class A misdemeanor).
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After his arrest, investigator Evett Kelly discovered that Patel had allegedly created fake social media accounts to post derogatory remarks about his opponent Andy Meyers and to make racist attacks on himself.
According to sources, Patel did this to gain the sympathy of voters and strengthen his candidacy.
According to court documents, these activities began in October 2022 and lasted until May 2024.
The latest search warrants include the examination of a half-dozen computers currently in Investigator Kelly’s possession, as well as a USB drive and Patel’s Google phone. Investigators are examining several email accounts linked to Patel’s smartphone, including one particularly notable address: [email protected].
This email is reportedly linked to four accounts associated with Patel’s campaign and three accounts associated with Fort Bend County Judge KP George.
Patel, former Chief of Staff to Fort Bend County Judge KP George, left his position in March 2021 after receiving a “presidential appointment by the Biden-Harris administration.” In May 2023, Patel returned to Fort Bend County and announced his candidacy for Fort Bend County County Commissioner – District 3.
The warrants also show that photos of a couple in Fort Bend County were used on a fake account called “Antonio Scalywag.”
KPRC 2 Investigates reported on this account in June. Investigator Kelly claims that Patel used the email linked to “mountaingoatzrule” and the photo of the couple to create the account.
The name Richard Melton and the email address [email protected] have also been linked to Patel’s activities. When asked about this, the couple whose photos were used denied any knowledge of Melton or any connection to their home.
Another fake account linked to Patel was “Paul Rosenstein.” Using an email provided by Commissioner Meyers, Investigator Kelly obtained a search warrant for Google that revealed an IP address associated with Starry, Inc. in Washington, DC. Subsequent investigation linked this IP address to Patel and his Pixel 6 Pro device. Patel reportedly accessed both the “Antonio Scalywag” Facebook account and the emails [email protected] and [email protected].
Additionally, an email address associated with Patel’s Sugar Land residence ([email protected]) was linked to a Facebook account under the name “Jennifer Tremaine.” One of the warrants says Tremaine’s account was linked to “xenophobic comments” Patel posted on a flyer to prove he was being racially attacked by voters.
Despite being charged with a serious crime, Patel remains in the race and has not commented publicly on his arrest or the ongoing investigation.
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