A former postal worker from Washington, D.C., is facing significant prison time after being found guilty of stealing more than $1.6 million in checks meant for his customers.
Hachikosela Muchimba, 44, fraudulently obtained close to 100 checks over nearly three years, with many of them being tax refunds issued by the U.S. Treasury. According to the Justice Department, Muchimba used the stolen money to live a luxurious lifestyle, which included international trips, stays at expensive hotels, and spending at gentlemen’s clubs.
One notable trip was to the Bulgari Resort Bali in July 2022, where he made a large debit card purchase that led authorities to discover the theft. The resort is known for its upscale accommodations and can cost over $1,300 per night.
The investigation into Muchimba began in January 2023 when a person reported that their treasury check, worth over $14,000, had been deposited into someone else’s account. This check had been addressed to the same name and address as their mail carrier.
As investigators dug deeper, they found multiple other checks that had also been fraudulently deposited into accounts controlled by Muchimba, totaling nearly $1.7 million. Some checks were found during a search of his home, including one for over $415,000.
Muchimba was seen on surveillance footage depositing these checks while wearing his postal uniform. He altered the checks, changing the payee name to his own to facilitate the fraud.
Facing 20 charges, including theft of mail and bank fraud, Muchimba was found guilty on March 14. His sentencing is scheduled for August, and he could face up to 30 years in prison for each count of bank fraud and up to five years for each count of mail fraud. His lawyer has not commented on the case.
