Former Letter Carrier Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison and Stripped of Citizenship for Mail Theft and Bank Fraud Scheme

Strategic Insights -

A former U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison and had his U.S. citizenship revoked for his role in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme that netted him $1.6 million. Hachikosela Muchimba, 45, was found guilty by a federal jury on March 14, 2025, of conspiracy to commit theft of mail and bank fraud, among other charges. The scheme, which ran from December 2020 to March 2023, involved stealing U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks from the mail and depositing them into bank accounts controlled by Muchimba. The stolen checks totaled over $1.6 million, which Muchimba used to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hachikosela Muchimba was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for his role in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme that netted him $1.6 million.
  • Muchimba was found guilty by a federal jury on March 14, 2025, of conspiracy to commit theft of mail and bank fraud, among other charges.
  • The scheme involved stealing U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks from the mail and depositing them into bank accounts controlled by Muchimba.
  • Muchimba used the stolen money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including international travel, stays at luxury hotels, and $100,000 spent at gentlemen's clubs.
  • Muchimba's U.S. citizenship was revoked due to the fact that it was illegally procured, as he falsely claimed to have not committed any criminal activity on his application for citizenship.
  • Muchimba was a letter carrier based in Friendship Heights when he executed the scheme, which involved over 30 different mail routes.
  • Bank surveillance footage captured images of Muchimba making deposits and withdrawals of the funds.
  • Muchimba was arrested on September 20, 2023, at Dulles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Zambia.
  • The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations.
  • The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys John Borchert and Diane Lucas of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section.
  • Muchimba was ordered to pay $651,068.35 in restitution to victims and to forfeit his ill-gotten gains of $1,273,403.36.

Statistics:

  • $1.6 million: total amount stolen from U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks
  • 66 months: prison sentence imposed on Muchimba
  • 30+: number of mail routes involved in the scheme
  • $2,000: amount of cash found in Muchimba's luggage at the time of his arrest
  • 2020-2023: time period during which the scheme was carried out
  • $100,000: amount spent by Muchimba at gentlemen's clubs
  • 2023: year in which Muchimba was arrested at Dulles International Airport

Sources:

  • U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia
  • United States Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General
  • Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
  • Homeland Security Investigations
  • Assistant U.S Attorneys John Borchert and Diane Lucas