Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon, in office less than six months, was arrested Wednesday and accused of accepting more than $48,000 in bribes from undercover agents. The bribes included cash, airline tickets, a hotel room, and use of a luxury apartment between January 2013 and February 2014 in exchange for the use of his official position. The agents posed as businessmen who wanted to do work with North Carolina’s largest city.
Cannon, is also charged with extortion and honest services wire fraud. If convicted on all the charges, he faces 20 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines. Cannon, owner of a parking management company, was elected mayor in November, replacing Anthony Foxx.
