FORMER WALLER COUNTY D.A. INVESTIGATOR CONVICTED ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES

  

A former investigator with the Waller County District Attorney’s Office has been convicted on federal charges in U.S. District Court.

49-year-old Mohammed “Alex” Ahmed Kassem of Houston was charged with Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Money Laundering.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the jury heard how Kassem escorted sham heroin and cartel drug money across state lines from Louisiana to Houston to San Antonio in his marked police vehicle on three separate occasions for which he was paid $31,000.

Other testimony revealed that Kassem hid money in his bulletproof vest, and disguised sham heroin in an evidence bag to avoid detection. 

Audio and video recordings were presented of each transaction, along with related text messages. Prosecutors also showed the jury bank records of cash deposits made to his personal account after each payment.

Kassem took the stand in his own defense claiming that he received approval from the D.A.’s Office to conduct undercover investigations as part of his job.

His former employer refuted those claims.

Kassem was found not guilty on a separate Money Laundering charge, as well as a charge of Possession of a Firearm While Committing a Drug Trafficking Offense.

Defense Attorney Warren Diepraam, who represented Kassem, told the Texas Tribune that since he was found not guilty on two charges, that he should have been found not guilty on all charges. He added that they do plan to appeal the verdict.

U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has set a June 13 date for sentencing.

Kassem is facing up to life in prison for heroin trafficking, and 20 years for money laundering.  He could also have to pay up to $10 million in fines.