Oklahoma City Weed and Seed director suspended without pay [The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City]

July 17--The man at the center of an investigation into misspending in Oklahoma City's Weed and Seed program has been put on unpaid leave after being charged with a felony, city officials said Friday.

Ed Martin, who had been on paid administrative leave since problems were discovered with the program last summer, was charged last month with insurance fraud unrelated to his work with the city.

A federal audit released by the city last month showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in the program were mismanaged or misspent over the past six years.

Weed and Seed is a federal grant program that increases law enforcement activity and social programs in high-crime areas.

Poor record keeping in the Weed and Seed office made it impossible for the city to determine the extent of the misspending, city officials said.

The U.S. Justice Department could demand the city repay some or all of the grant money because of the audit's findings.

Martin was one of two city employees on administrative leave while the city investigates the problems. The other employee's name has not been released.

As the city began looking into the problems at the Weed and Seed office, investigators found that Martin made a claim to State Farm, his home insurer, after his house was damaged in a December 2007 ice storm.

A probable cause affidavit filed by police said Martin turned in a receipt to State Farm claiming he paid $300 to another city employee for the use of a Weed and Seed electric generator following the storm. The receipt had the employee's signature on it, but that employee told police he never signed such a receipt and never received any money from Martin.

Police said Martin also claimed he paid Alton Tree Service $2,800 to remove trees and debris from around his home.

The owner of Alton Tree Service said he couldn't remember doing the work and had only given Martin a bid on the project. Police said a part-time city employee removed the trees for about $200.

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