An investigation into a former Town of Sahuarita employee’s theft and fraud has established probable cause for a second arrest of Joe Marti, as well as the arrest of Mike Felix of Mikey’s Concrete. Both men face felony fraud and theft charges.
According to Sahuarita Police Department (SPD), on December 7, 2024, the Town received an anonymous tip that Town of Sahuarita employee Joe Marti was using his town-issued fuel card to purchase fuel for his personally owned vehicles and may be involved in other inappropriate conduct. The Town Manager provided this information to the Chief of Police.
On December 9, 2024, the Chief of Police directed detectives of the SPD Criminal Investigations Bureau to begin a criminal investigation into the allegations. During the investigation, additional allegations were made that Marti was receiving monetary “kickbacks” from a business, Mikey’s Concrete. The alleged “kickbacks” were for directing Public Works construction or repair projects to Mikey’s Concrete.
As reported in a previous press release, Marti was charged with theft and fraud related to the theft of and later pawning of town equipment as well as using his town fuel card to purchase fuel for personal vehicles.
SPD detectives conducted a significant investigation which revealed clear probable cause to arrest Marti on January 17, 2025 on following charges:
- One count, Trafficking in Stolen Property, 13-2307B (F2)
- Eight counts, Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, 13-2310A (F2)
- One count, Trafficking in Stolen Property, second degree, 13-2307A (F3)
- One count, Theft, 13-1802A (F6)
Marti was booked into the Pima County Jail on the above charges. He was released from jail without bond by the presiding initial appearance judge. The SPD continued to conduct follow-up investigation as there were other possible violations of the law. After discussion between the SPD and the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the charges against Marti were “dismissed without prejudice.”
As it was in this case, the action to dismiss charges without prejudice in a case while additional charges are investigated provides time for police and prosecutors to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the case. This process also allows for any original charges and possible new charges to be brought against a defendant at a different time.
On March 26, 2025, the SPD detectives completed several weeks of follow-up investigation. Clear probable cause was established to arrest Marti for a second time on newly discovered charges.
Investigation revealed Marti purchased professional-grade landscaping equipment with his Town p-card (credit card) and then sold the stolen property to Mike Felix at a reduced price. Additionally, investigation showed that Marti had purchased a variety of other items for personal use with his Town p-card such as but not limited to power tools, hand tools, home goods, etc.
Joe Marti was arrested at approximately 6:10 a.m. on March 26, at his Tucson home and was booked at Pima County Jail. He was charged with the following:
- Two counts of Trafficking in Stolen Property, 13-2307B (F2)
- Three counts of Fraudulent Schemes and use of an Artifice, 13-2310A (F2)
- One count of Fraudulent Schemes and Practices, 13-2311A (F2)
- One count of Felony Theft, 13-1802A3 (F3)
Records obtained through investigation revealed Felix paid Marti thousands of dollars for Public Works projects directed to his business, Mikey’s Concrete. The investigation also showed clear probable cause to arrest Mike Felix, owner of Mikey’s Concrete, for purchasing at a reduced price the professional grade tools that Joe Marti illegally purchased with his Town p-card. Mike Felix was booked at the county jail on March 26. He was charged with the following:
- Three counts, Conspiracy to Commit Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, 13-1003 and 13-2310A (F2)
- Two counts, Trafficking in Stolen Property 13-2307B (F3)
- Two counts, Theft by Control 13-1802A1 (F4)
On March 26, 2025, at approximately 7:15 a.m. Mike Felix was arrested at the Sahuarita Police Station for the above-listed charges and booked at the Pima County Jail.
The total dollar amount of the different types of theft by Joe Marti known at this time is approximately $27,000. Additionally, over a four-year period, there are over three dozen memorandums or emails connected to missing receipts associated with Joe Marti’s p-card purchases totaling $2,347.80. In the corresponding memos or emails requested by finance for each charge, Marti provided a wide variety of explanations for the missing receipts.
During the second booking of Joe Marti on March 26, 2025, a bail of $20,000 was requested. This was due to the amount of loss, the number of times the alleged thefts occurred over approximately three years because the thefts were accomplished in different fraudulent ways, and Joe Marti’s known prior criminal history.
The multi-month investigation revealed Joe Marti, now a former Town employee, was the only Town employee allegedly committing crimes, in coordination with Mike Felix or otherwise.
There is a parallel Town of Sahuarita personnel investigation into the multi-year patterns and practices that allowed for theft and fraud to go unnoticed. Human Resources and the Town Manager, with the help of a third-party investigator, are currently assessing policies, addressing ineffective checks and balances, and will be taking corrective action where appropriate.
If you or someone else may have information associated with this case, SPD would like to speak with you. Anyone with information may contact the SPD by calling 520-351-4900, 9-1-1, or 520-344-7000 during business hours, Monday Through Friday, or by contacting our TIP Line at 520-445-7847.
