RICHMOND, Texas (Diya TV) — Suspended Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George received a sentence of 180 days in jail and five years of probation Tuesday after a court convicted him on two felony money laundering charges tied to campaign funds.

Judge Maggie Perez-Jaramillo of the 458th District Court handed down the sentence in a packed Richmond courtroom. George also received a $5,000 fine, 200 hours of community service, and several probation conditions. However, the sentence will remain on hold while he pursues an appeal.

The case centers on financial transactions that took place during the early months of George’s first term in office. Prosecutors argued that George transferred more than $46,000 from campaign accounts into his personal bank account. They said he later used the money for personal expenses, including a home down payment and property tax payments.

A jury found George guilty on March 19 of two third-degree felony counts of money laundering. Prosecutors said the campaign funds became criminal proceeds after George allegedly misrepresented information in campaign finance reports.

Perez-Jaramillo imposed the statutory maximum sentence of 10 years for the felony convictions, but suspended that prison term. Instead, she ordered George to serve six months in the Fort Bend County Jail and complete five years of community supervision.

George and his attorneys immediately filed an appeal after the sentencing hearing. As a result, he will remain free while the appeals process moves forward.

“The sentence that was passed down will not go into effect until his appeals are over,” Fort Bend County Second Assistant District Attorney Wesley Wittig said after the hearing. He added that the process could take more than a year.

In addition to jail time and probation, the court ordered George to complete an anti-theft class. He also must avoid maintaining active social media accounts and cannot hold employment in a fiduciary role during probation. Furthermore, the court directed him to avoid contact with former chief of staff Taral Patel.

Patel pleaded guilty last year to two counts of misrepresentation of identity by a political candidate.

During the sentencing phase, prosecutors argued that jail time would provide an appropriate punishment. They also presented evidence they said showed an abuse of public trust.

Meanwhile, George’s defense team pushed for community supervision without jail time. Attorneys argued that George posed no threat to public safety and deserved a less severe punishment.

Defense attorney Jared Woodfill maintained that the money involved did not qualify as criminal proceeds. He also repeated claims that the prosecution was politically motivated.

“We don’t believe that the money was a source of criminal proceeds,” Woodfill said after the hearing.

The money laundering case is not the only legal challenge facing the suspended county judge. George also faces a separate misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity. Prosecutors allege that he helped create or promote fake social media posts containing racist attacks against his own campaign during the 2022 election cycle.

George has denied wrongdoing in that case as well. His trial is scheduled for July.

The sentencing follows George’s suspension from office in April. A Fort Bend County resident filed a civil lawsuit seeking his removal after the felony conviction. County officials initially stated that George would continue receiving his taxpayer-funded salary. However, prosecutors said the court’s latest order suspends him without pay while the appeal remains pending.

George made history in 2018 when voters elected him as Fort Bend County judge. Born in the Indian state of Kerala, he later immigrated to the United States and built a career in financial planning before entering public service.

He won the election as a Democrat in 2018 and secured reelection in 2022. However, he switched to the Republican Party in 2025 after his indictment. Later, he lost the 2026 Republican primary for county judge, finishing last in a five-candidate race.

With his term set to expire at the end of the year, George’s political future remains uncertain. For now, attention will shift to the appeals process and the upcoming misdemeanor trial, both of which could shape the final chapter of his tenure in Fort Bend County.