On Wednesday, a federal judge rescinded the U.S. citizenship of a former postal worker who was found guilty of stealing over $1.6 million in checks from mailboxes belonging to residents of Washington, D.C.

Hachikosela Muchimba, 45, was convicted of several charges including mail theft, bank fraud, and unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship. His scheme, which started in late 2020, involved stealing checks from mailboxes along his delivery path from the Friendship Post Office in Northwest D.C. He applied for U.S. naturalization in September 2021 and took the Oath of Allegiance in May 2022, during which time he had already stolen over $450,000 from his postal customers.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, whose parents immigrated from Cuba, stated, “This country offered you and all immigrants a lot,” and added, “My family has certainly benefited from it. Regrettably, you took advantage of that, and I hope you feel remorseful.”

In September 2023, Muchimba was apprehended at Dulles International Airport while trying to board a flight to Zambia. Prosecutors argued that Judge Contreras should not consider the risk of deportation in Muchimba’s sentencing, noting he was not under an ICE detainer at the time. However, Judge Contreras implied that deportation was almost definite.

“Do you read the newspapers?” he asked dryly.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Borchert and Diane Lucas recommended a 108-month, or nine-year, prison sentence for Muchimba. Judge Contreras, however, decided on a sentence of about five-and-a-half years in prison, but agreed with the prosecutors to mandate nearly $600,000 in restitution. Earlier in 2023, the government confiscated over $400,000 from a bank account managed by Muchimba.

During the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Muchimba chose not to speak. His lawyer, Pleasant Brodnax, mentioned in a submitted memorandum that the theft was an “isolated incident in an otherwise law-abiding life.” Brodnax concurred with Judge Contreras that deportation was virtually inevitable.

“I know they’re going to come after him,” Brodnax said. “There’s not doubt they’re going to do that.”

Muchimba used the stolen money to fund what prosecutors described as a “lavish lifestyle” of gentlemen’s clubs and international travel. Although he allegedly enlisted others into his check-stealing scheme, prosecutors said Wednesday Muchimba had never given up their names and declined every opportunity to debrief investigators about others who might still be employed by the U.S. Postal Service.

Contreras said Muchimba appeared to have had a good childhood in Zambia in an upper-income household. He received a college degree in accounting and was eventually employed as a postal worker. Contreras said the case “screamed for punishment” to deter others from the easy money a scheme like Muchimba’s presented. He said Muchimba had given ammo to those who would paint all immigrants as criminals.

“I hope you are not used as an example by the government that immigrants commit crimes at a higher rate, which I don’t think is the case,” Contreras said. “But you are certainly part of the problem.”