A former U.S. Postal Service worker was convicted of stealing around $1.6 million in checks to fund a “lavish lifestyle that included international travel, stays at luxury hotels, and purchases at gentlemen’s clubs,” federal prosecutors said. 

Hachikosela Muchimba, 44, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a federal jury last week on charges of mail theft and bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

“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.” 

The Justice Department said “Bank surveillance footage captured images of [Muchimba] making deposits and withdrawals of the funds.” (Justice Department)

Sentencing in the case is set for Aug. 8, with a maximum penalty of 30 years for the bank fraud charge and five years for the mail theft charge. 

“Muchimba was also found guilty at trial of unlawful procurement of naturalization,” 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.” 

Muchimba “deposited the checks, which he either altered and/or falsely endorsed, into bank accounts under his control,” according to the Justice Department. (Justice Department)

At the time of his arrest in September 2023, Muchimba was trying to flee to Zambia, WUSA9 reported, citing charging documents.