Indian American Political Candidate From Texas Arrested for Alleged Online Impersonation

- Taral Patel, 30, is running for Precinct 3 commissioner from Fort Bend County.

An Indian American political candidate from Texas was arrested on June 12Â for alleged online impersonation. Taral Patel, 30, who is running for Precinct 3 commissioner from Fort Bend County, is being charged with âonline impersonation, a third-degree felony, as well as a Class-A misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity,â according to a press release issued by Fort Bend County District Attorneyâs Public Integrity Division.
The Fort Bend County District Attorneyâs Public Integrity Division has been investigating a complaint against Patel in collaboration with the Texas Rangers.
He is being held on a $20,000 bond for the felony and a $2,500 bond for the misdemeanor. He was scheduled to see a judge today is he failed to pose the bond before.
Patelâs website describes him as âa dedicated advocate and longtime public servantâ with âa track record of delivering on issues like affordable housing and jobs.â It further notes that his âexperience in local, state, and federal government and the private sector has made our local community more effective, engaging, and efficient for everyone that calls Fort Bend home.â
Additionally, he has âhelped lead Fort Bend County successfully through numerous flooding incidents, the COVID-19 pandemic, Winter Storm Uri and electric grid failure, droughts, and other major emergencies to emerge stronger and more united than ever before,â the website adds. His âefforts have brought thousands of good paying jobs to Fort Bend, made historic investments to our public safety and Emergency Management programs, and fought traffic congestion.â
The website also mentions Patelâs previous jobs. He has worked for the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division in the Public Integrity Section, as deputy finance director for a governor, and as a legislative staff member for the Texas House of Representativesâ focusing on the Transportation and Government Accountability and Transparency Committees.â He is a graduate of public schools in Fort Bend County and of the University of Texas at Austin.
Top photo, Taral Patel with his grandmother, Surya ba. In a Facebook post on May 25, he wished her “a blessed and happy 96th birthday. Your wisdom, tireless kindness, and lessons continue to make my life and the world a better place.” (Photo: Facebook)