INVESTIGATOR AT WALLER CO. DA’s OFFICE INDICTED ON DRUG, MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES

  

An investigator with the Waller County District Attorney’s Office has been indicted and taken into custody on drug and money laundering charges.

According to acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery, 46-year-old Mohamed Ahmed “Alex” Kassem of Houston was indicted last week on three counts by a Houston grand jury, charged with attempting to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, as well as attempting to launder drug proceeds.

Kassem was taken into custody Tuesday, and is expected to make his first court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday).

The indictment alleges Kassem was involved in laundering of what he believed was $200,000 in drug proceeds in August 2019.

If convicted of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, Kassem faces up to life in prison, as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.  If he is convicted of either of the two counts of money laundering, he also faces up to 20 years of federal imprisonment.  In addition, the money laundering charges carry up to a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Waller County District Attorney’s Office.

In a statement on social media, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis called Kassem a “long time county employee” and “a beloved friend,” adding that the district attorney's office was “devastated by these allegations.”  He stated that the alleged offenses of money laundering and drug possession occurred outside of Waller County, but said any local criminal cases he may have worked on will be reviewed.