A former investigator with the Waller County District Attorney’s Office has been found guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute heroin and money laundering, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced.
A federal jury found that Mohammed “Alex” Ahmed Kassem, 49, of Houston used his marked police vehicle to transport “sham” heroin and drug cartel money between Louisiana, Houston, and San Antonio on three separate occasions for which he was paid $31,000, the DOJ said on Tuesday. Waller County sits about 60 miles northwest of Houston.
“When Alex Kassem wore his Waller County peace officer credentials and Waller County-issued firearm while transporting what he thought were drugs in his Waller County-issued vehicle and then accepted what he thought was cartel drug money, he breached the most sacred of trusts—the trust a community places in its law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani. “Today’s conviction brings Kassem one step closer to exchanging his peace officer attire for prison-issued garb and to restoring a trust once lost.”
Prosecutors presented audio and video recordings of each transaction and related text messages during the four-day trial.
“The jury also saw bank records of cash deposits made to Kassem’s personal account after each payment,” the release stated.
Mr. Kassem took the stand on his own behalf and told the jury he was authorized to commit the crimes as part of his role at the DA’s office.
“Kassem also maintained that he received implicit approval from the Waller County DA to conduct undercover investigations as part of his role at the DA’s Office,” according to the Justice Department.
The Waller County DA’s office refuted Mr. Kassem’s statements during testimony.
It was also revealed during testimony that Mr. Kassem “hid money in his bulletproof vest and disguised the sham heroin in an evidence bag to avoid detection.”
The jury deliberated for eight hours before convicting Mr. Kassem on two of four charges. He was found not guilty on another charge of money laundering and possession of a firearm while committing a drug trafficking crime.
“Alex Kassem was a criminal in disguise. He cloaked himself in his trusted position as a licensed peace officer and Waller County DA investigator while working to enrich himself by shamelessly moving money and drugs in his work vehicle and hidden in his police vest,” said Douglas Williams, special agent in charge of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Kassem is now a convicted federal felon thanks to the relentless work of FBI Bryan agents and our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who unmasked his corruption and criminal ways.”
Attorney Warren Diepraam, who represented Mr. Kassem, is reportedly trying to exonerate his client’s convictions, citing the jury’s inconsistent verdict.
Mr. Kassem, who was previously out on bond, was taken into custody following his conviction, where he will remain pending his sentencing on June 13. He is facing up to life in prison for the heroin trafficking conviction and up to 20 years for money laundering. He is also facing up to $10 million in fines.
The DEA assisted the FBI’s investigation of the case.
