A former postal worker from Washington, D.C., has been found guilty of stealing more than $1.6 million in U.S. Treasury and private party checks to fund an expensive lifestyle.
Hachikosela Muchimba, 44, embezzled the funds between December 2020 and March 2023 by depositing checks that had been altered into bank accounts he controlled, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Bank surveillance footage showed Muchimba conducting deposits and withdrawals with stolen funds, which he later spent on luxury hotels, international travel, and gentlemen’s clubs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
“According to court documents, between December 2020 and March 2023, Muchimba was an employee of the U.S. Postal Service when he executed a scheme to steal U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks from the U.S. mail,” the DOJ said in a statement.
“Muchimba then deposited the checks, which he either altered and/or falsely endorsed, into bank accounts under his control.”
“The total amount of the U.S. Treasury checks fraudulently deposited into Muchimba’s various bank accounts was just over $1.6 million,” prosecutors added.
“Muchimba used the proceeds of the stolen checks to fund a lavish lifestyle that included international travel, stays at luxury hotels, and purchases at gentlemen’s clubs.”
Muchimba was found guilty of several charges, including:
- Conspiracy to commit theft of mail
- Bank fraud
- Theft of mail
- Engaging in monetary transactions with property derived from unlawful activities
Bank fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, while mail theft is punishable by up to five years.
Muchimba was also convicted of unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization after falsely claiming 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 result in 10 years of imprisonment and even administrative denaturalization.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said:
“During the scheme, Muchimba applied to become a naturalized U.S. citizen and provided false information to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers by telling them that he had not committed any crimes for which he had not been arrested.
That offense carries a maximum penalty of ten years of incarceration and possible administrative denaturalization.”
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