Hachikosela Muchimba, a 44-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a federal jury for charges related to mail theft and bank fraud, leading to illegal gains exceeding $1.6 million. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., alongside Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson from the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General.
The jury determined that Muchimba was guilty of conspiracy to commit mail theft and bank fraud, among other charges. U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras has set sentencing for August 8, 2025, with Muchimba remaining detained until then.
Court documents reveal that between December 2020 and March 2023, while employed at the U.S. Postal Service, Muchimba orchestrated a plan to steal checks from the U.S. mail system. He deposited these checks into his own accounts after altering or falsely endorsing them. Surveillance footage confirmed his involvement in depositing and withdrawing funds amounting to over $1.6 million.
The stolen funds were used by Muchimba to support an extravagant lifestyle involving international travel and luxury expenses.
Muchimba also faced conviction for unlawfully procuring naturalization by providing false information during his application process with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers.
The potential penalties include up to ten years for unlawful procurement of naturalization, thirty years for bank fraud, and five years for mail theft as per statutory guidelines set by Congress.
The investigation was led by several agencies including the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S Attorneys John Borchert and Diane Lucas are prosecuting this case on behalf of the District of Columbia's U.S Attorney’s Office.