DENVER (LAWFUEL) – Jason W. Muchow, age 33, of Loveland, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver last week on charges of mail theft and possession of a machine gun, Acting U.S. Attorney David Gaouette, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service David Montoya, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Richard Chase announced today. Muchow appeared this morning in federal court for arraignment and a detention hearing. At the conclusion of that hearing he was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen M. Tafoya. The indictment charging Muchow was returned by a federal grand jury on April 21, 2009.
Muchow was a letter carrier who worked at the Valentine Station in Loveland, Colorado. According to the indictment, from December 9, 2008, and continuing until February 7, 2009, Muchow allegedly possessed stolen first class mail addressed to a resident in Loveland, Colorado, with a Denver return address. On February 6, 2009, the indictment further alleges that Muchow possessed a fully automatic AK-47 machine gun.
Public records in Larimer County state court reveal that on February 7, 2009, the defendant was arrested for breaking and entering into a residence. During that event Muchow allegedly killed and mutilated the residence’s cat. The fully automatic AK-47 was found in Muchow’s bedroom, along with ammunition.
“Illegally possessing a prohibited weapon, especially a fully automatic AK-47, is a serious crime that will not be tolerated in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David Gaouette.
“The charge of our Special Agents is to investigate internal crimes and frauds against the Postal Service,” said Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service Special Agent in Charge David Montoya. “The United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) takes allegations of this nature, as enumerated in the Federal Indictment on April 21, 2009, extremely seriously. The public we serve should remain confident knowing we will vigorously investigate such matters, as we did in this instance. This was a cooperative effort with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Loveland Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
“ATF is dedicated to removing illegal firearms from the hands of criminals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Richard Chase. “This joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Loveland Police Department works to ensure the safety of our communities in Colorado.”
If convicted, Muchow faces not more than 5 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine for each of the two counts of mail theft. He also faces not more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of a machine gun.
This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Loveland Police Department, with assistance from the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Muchow is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Sibert.
These charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
