Ad
NEWS
Treasurer of ABQ mail handler's union charged with embezzlement and fraud
Money allegedly used to buy alcohol, cigarettes and other personal items
Published
Modified
A federal grand jury has indicted the former treasurer of the local mail handlers union, accusing him of embezzling union funds.
Max Jaramillo, 58, is charged with two counts of wire fraud and three counts of embezzlement by an officer of a labor organization. He does not yet have an attorney.
If convicted, Jaramillo faces up to 20 years in prison.
"Jaramillo's scheme and artifice consisted of using his position as the Union's treasurer to access the Union's funds and to spend those funds on unauthorized personal expenses, to include using the Union's funds to buy, among other things, alcohol, cigarettes, condoms, personal meals, and hotel rooms," states the indictment filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday.
Jaramillo served as treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 331 between January 2014 and February 2024. The crimes allegedly occurred between January 2015 and November 2023, and the indictment says Jaramillo "falsely represented to the Department of Labor via annual union reports that the union's funds were used only for authorized union expenses when in fact Max Jaramillo used some of the union's funds for his personal expenses."
Those expense include a $50 bottle of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a $45 bottle of Scotch whisky and a $25 pack of Marlboro cigarettes, the indictment states.
As treasurer, Jaramillo was in charge of managing the union's finances and accounting for any profits for the organization. He was also required to file an annual report with the secretary of Labor to disclose any finances for the fiscal year, including salaries, allowances and any reimbursed expenses.
David Wisneski, president of Local 331, said Jaramillo cited personal reasons when he put in his letter of resignation. Wisneski said he did not know if Jaramillo resigned prior to the investigation.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
