COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former federal probation officer pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to extortion. During her time as a probation officer, she accepted cash, pills, goods, and services from individuals under her supervision.
Helwa H. Qasem, 44, of Bexley, Ohio, pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging her with extortion under color of official right, which is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, from 2016 through 2018, Qasem accepted Xanax, cash, a sweater, a bag, and below-market personal services in exchange for official actions as a probation officer.
In her role as a U.S. Probation Officer, Qasem supervised offenders who had been sentenced to terms of probation by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio or who were serving terms of supervised release after release from prison. As part of her job, she had to tell the authorities about people who broke the rules of their probation or supervised release.
As part of her plea, Qasem admitted she extorted property from at least four individuals under her supervision and, in return, did not report violations committed by those individuals. At least two people who were being watched and the spouse of a third person each gave Qasem Xanax for her own use.
Qasem also unlawfully received several personal services, including moving services to help her relocate to a new home; and repairs to blinds, a dryer, a dishwasher, a washing machine, and a vehicle. Someone under Qasem’s supervision set up for these personal services to be done for her.
Finally, Qasem admitted to sharing confidential information she received from a Columbus police officer with an individual under her supervision. Qasem had received a police report from the officer. The report stated that the officer had met with a person who was attempting to become a confidential informant and had provided information that a person under Qasem’s supervision was a drug trafficker. The report contained a photograph of the potential informant. Qasem showed that photograph to the person under her supervision and told him to stay away from the potential informant.