HOUSTON — A man who made his living investigating crimes is now going to prison for committing them, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced Thursday.
A federal judge in Houston sentenced Mohammed “Alex” Ahmed Kassem to 121 months in federal prison.
In February, a jury convicted Kassem of trafficking heroin and laundering cartel drug money while working as an investigator for the Waller County District Attorney's Office.
“Alex Kassem was a criminal in disguise,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams said after the trial. "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."
The FBI said Kassem hid the money in his bulletproof vest and the sham heroin in his evidence bag. He was paid a total of $31,000 for three different trips to move the sham drugs and money from Louisiana to Houston and Houston to San Antonio in his marked police vehicle.
Kassem testified on his own behalf and claimed that he had the authority to commit the crimes while working undercover for the DA's office. His former employer said he was lying.
“The sentence reflects the serious nature of the crime by someone sworn to be a public servant,” said Hamdani. “Kassem was willing to use his badge for his own financial gain. This was an important statement to corrupt law enforcement that you will be prosecuted if you go outside the bounds of the law and abuse your position of trust.”
Kassem could have been sentenced to life in prison for the trafficking conviction and 20 years for money laundering.
