A former postal worker from Washington, D.C., has been found guilty of stealing over $1.6 million in U.S. Treasury and private party checks. Hachikosela Muchimba, aged 44, who worked for the U.S. Postal Service, committed these acts between December 2020 and March 2023. According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Muchimba deposited checks that had been altered into bank accounts he controlled.
The Attorney’s Office indicated that bank surveillance footage showed Muchimba conducting deposits and withdrawals involving the stolen funds. The ill-gotten money was reportedly spent on international travel, luxury hotel stays, and purchases at gentlemen’s clubs, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Last Thursday, a jury convicted Muchimba of several charges, including conspiracy to commit theft of mail, bank fraud, theft of mail, and engaging in monetary transactions with property derived from unlawful activities. Bank fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, while mail theft can result in up to five years.
In addition, Muchimba was convicted of unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization. He had falsely claimed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers that he had not committed crimes for which he had not been arrested during his naturalization process. Conviction for this offense could lead to 10 years of imprisonment and might also result in administrative denaturalization.
Muchimba’s sentencing is scheduled for August 8, and he will remain in custody until that date.
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