A former employee of the U.S. Postal Service has been convicted of stealing more than $1.6 million through mail theft and bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia. Hachikosela Muchimba, a 44-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a federal jury on charges of mail theft and bank fraud, which resulted in him illegally obtaining over $1.6 million. The scheme involved stealing U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks from the mail, altering and depositing them into bank accounts under his control, and using the funds for a lavish lifestyle that included international travel, luxury hotel stays, and purchases at gentlemen’s clubs.
In addition to the fraud and theft charges, Muchimba was also convicted of unlawfully procuring naturalization by providing false information to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers. He is scheduled for sentencing on August 8 and is currently detained. The maximum penalties for bank fraud and mail theft are 30 years and five years in prison respectively, while the maximum penalty for unlawful procurement of naturalization is 10 years of incarceration and potential denaturalization.
Muchimba’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A representative for Muchimba listed in court documents was not immediately available for comment.
