Union Treasurer Charged with Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of Labor Organization Funds

ALBUQUERQUE – A former treasurer of a New Mexico labor organization is facing federal charges for allegedly abusing his position of trust within a union to misuse union funds and conceal that conduct through false financial reporting.

According to court records, from 2014 through early 2024, Max Jaramillo, 58, served as treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 331, a position that carries fiduciary duties to safeguard union assets and to accurately disclose the union’s financial condition to its members and the Department of Labor. During that time frame, Jaramillo used union funds for unauthorized personal expenses and then submitted required annual Labor Organization Annual Reports that falsely represented the expenditures as legitimate union expenses, omitting the true nature and purpose of the disbursements. These false filings and omissions were material and were used to conceal the misuse of union funds from both union members and federal regulators.

Jaramillo is federally charged with two counts of wire fraud and three counts of embezzlement by an Officer or a Labor Organization. If convicted, Jaramillo faces up to 20 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.

An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.