NEW YORK, NY July 16, 2009 —Former City Councilman Miguel Martinez has admitted stealing more than $100,000 in taxpayer money intended for non-profits. The second-term politician pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering in federal Court. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more.

REPORTER: Martinez confessed to the judge that he'd taken funds that "benefited him personally to which he wasn't entitled". Investigators say that's an understatement, given the amount stolen and the lengths he went to to cover it up.

The U.S Attorney's office for the Southern District and the city's Department of Investigation have been conducting a criminal probe for more than a year into how the Council uses its slush funds. DOI's Rose Gill Hearn says the investigation revealed a criminal at city hall.

GILL HEARN: In short the crimes described in today's guilty plea represent his fundamental betrayal of the public trust.

REPORTER: The investigation remains ongoing but Gill Hearn wouldn't say if she expects the probe to uncover more fraud, or lead to other indictments. For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.