DA investigator indicted on drug and money laundering charges

Authorities took Mohamed Ahmed “Alex” Kassem, 46, Houston, into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

A Houston grand jury returned the three-count indictment April 7. It 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. Upon conviction of either of the two counts of money laundering, he also faces up to 20 years of federal imprisonment. The money laundering charges also 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alamdar Hamdani and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case.  

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.