City Councilman Miguel Martinez, who represents much of Upper Manhattan and a small portion of the Bronx, resigned today. He sent Speaker Christine Quinn a one-sentence letter, amid a widespread federal investigation into Council earmarks that is expected to bring charges against him in the coming weeks. According to the Times, Martinez is accused of helping direct up to $1.4 million dollars to a group called Upper Manhattan Council Assisting Neighbors, where his sister Maria Martinez serves as a board member. The organization was raided for documents in March by city investigators looking for evidence of misuse of public funds. The investigation — which has involved other groups and the offices of other Council members — has been ongoing for two years and has already pulled in indictments of two former aides to Councilman Kendall Stewart for embezzlement. A relative of City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo has also been charged with embezzlement related to a nonprofit group, and nonprofit groups linked to Councilman Larry B. Seabrook have been subpoenaed under similarly shady circumstances.

Councilman Martinez Resigns [City Room/NYT]