Probation officer got pills to not report drug dealers
A federal probation officer in Columbus received Xanax pills and other compensation in exchange for not reporting offenders she supervised who were dealing drugs between 2016 and 2018, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court this week.
Helwa H. Qasem, 45, also impeded a Columbus police investigation into one of the offenders, who was allegedly dealing cocaine and heroin, according to court documents. Qasem warned the offender about a confidential informant the police had looking into the offender.
Qasem pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court Sothern District of Ohio in Columbus to one count of extortion under color of official right, a felony, according to a plea agreement dated Monday and filed in the court system online on Tuesday. That means Qasem admits she was a public official who obtained property she was not legally entitled to and this affected interstate commerce.
The offense carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
Qasem left her job as a probation officer about three years ago, according to her attorney, Steven Nolder. The incidents from when she was a federal probation officer came to light and were investigated only a few months ago, Nolder said.
Nolder said this is a tragic situation.
“She had her own demons she was dealing with at the time, unfortunately,” he said.
Qasem has been employed by the city of Columbus since July 2021, first with the Columbus Public Health Department and then the Department of Public Safety since March, where she was a Management Analyst II. She was place don administrative leave on April 22 when the department received notice of the pending federal investigation, according to a city spokesman.
Qasem resigned on Monday. According to court documents, between 2016 and 2018 on multiple occasions, Qasem extorted property and services from at least four individuals under her parole supervision in exchange for not reporting them for unlawful possession and distribution of Xanax. She received Xanax pills for personal use as well as cash, goods and free or discounted services an offender arranged for, including home repairs and car repair.