HOUSTON -- Three men, including a crime lab technician, are accused of stealing cocaine from the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab to sell it, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Investigators said Jesus Hinojosa Jr., 30, stole more than 50 pounds of cocaine since he was hired as a lab technician at the Jersey Village facility.

"The position that he held -- evidence technician -- allowed him to receive cocaine into the lab, it was then later analyzed. And as an evidence technician there, he also had access to computer databases that would show when evidence was analyzed and what the purity was," said Julian Ramirez, an assistant Harris County prosecutor.

Prosecutors said Hinojosa stole cocaine by the brick, which he then sold for $11,000 to $13,000 each.

"What he told investigators was that he hid it in a backpack and took it out, carried it out," Ramirez said.

Roberto Reynosa, 35, and Tommy Norris, 33, are accused of helping sell the drugs and then repackage it with white powder so as to not draw suspicion, officials said.

"He would repackage the cocaine after the good cocaine was extracted from it, so that the lab technician could put it back in the laboratory and not draw suspicion," said Chuck Rosenthal, Harris County's district attorney.

All three men were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, officials said. It carries a sentence of up to life in prison. Investigators said they all confessed. Hinojosa is being held on a $1 million bond.

Hinojosa worked at the lab for four years.

The cocaine was vital evidence in open and closed cases. It is not yet known how much of the stolen cocaine could be evidence in pending cases. An audit is under way.

The DPS lab is not used in Harris County, but the smaller areas that use the lab have been warned to be careful about their cases. The DPS lab analyzes narcotics seized all over the Gulf Coast. Some of those cases could be in jeopardy.

"My understanding is DPS has issued a moratorium on destruction and release of evidence from that lab. It's obviously something we're concerned about, as well, and we'll be looking into," Ramirez said.

The DPS did not comment to KPRC Local 2.

Both Reynosa and Norris have criminal backgrounds. Norris is also a registered sex offender.