Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon Arrested On Federal Corruption Charges
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon has been arrested for alleged violations of federal public corruption laws.
Click HERE to read the official news release from the Department of Justice.
A news release from the Department of Justice says Cannon has been charged with theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud and extortion under color of official right.
The FBI says they received reliable information that Cannon was potentially involved in illegal activities associated with his position as an elected official, and began an undercover investigation in August 2010.
During the course of the investigation, Cannon is accused of soliciting and accepting money bribes and things of value from undercover FBI agents, posing as commercial real estate developers and investors wishing to do business in Charlotte.
As alleged in the filed documents, Cannon solicited and accepted bribes and things of value in exchange for the use of his official position as Charlotte Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and as a City Council Member.
The complaint and law enforcement affidavit allege that Cannon accepted the bribes from the undercover FBI agents on five separate occasions.
On the last occasions, on February 21, 2014, Cannon allegedly accepted $20,000 in cash in the Mayor's office. According to the complaint and the affidavit, between January 2013 and February 2014, Cannon allegedly accepted from the undercover agents over $48,000 in cash, airline tickets, a hotel room, and use of a luxury apartment in exchange for the use of his official position.
Cannon had his initial appearance today and has been released on bond, pending indictment.
The charge of theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charge of honest services wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of not more than 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The charge of extortion under color of official right carries a statutory maximum sentence of not more than 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/news/local/Charlotte-Mayor-Patrick-Cannon-Arrested-On-Federal-Corruption-Charges-252483211.html
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon has been arrested for alleged violations of federal public corruption laws.
Click HERE to read the official news release from the Department of Justice.
A news release from the Department of Justice says Cannon has been charged with theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud and extortion under color of official right.
The FBI says they received reliable information that Cannon was potentially involved in illegal activities associated with his position as an elected official, and began an undercover investigation in August 2010.
During the course of the investigation, Cannon is accused of soliciting and accepting money bribes and things of value from undercover FBI agents, posing as commercial real estate developers and investors wishing to do business in Charlotte.
As alleged in the filed documents, Cannon solicited and accepted bribes and things of value in exchange for the use of his official position as Charlotte Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and as a City Council Member.
The complaint and law enforcement affidavit allege that Cannon accepted the bribes from the undercover FBI agents on five separate occasions.
On the last occasions, on February 21, 2014, Cannon allegedly accepted $20,000 in cash in the Mayor's office. According to the complaint and the affidavit, between January 2013 and February 2014, Cannon allegedly accepted from the undercover agents over $48,000 in cash, airline tickets, a hotel room, and use of a luxury apartment in exchange for the use of his official position.
Cannon had his initial appearance today and has been released on bond, pending indictment.
The charge of theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charge of honest services wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of not more than 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The charge of extortion under color of official right carries a statutory maximum sentence of not more than 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/news/local/Charlotte-Mayor-Patrick-Cannon-Arrested-On-Federal-Corruption-Charges-252483211.html