{"id":6656,"date":"2014-10-15T16:11:05","date_gmt":"2014-10-15T23:11:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=6656"},"modified":"2014-10-15T16:23:45","modified_gmt":"2014-10-15T23:23:45","slug":"former-charlotte-mayor-sentenced-prison-accepting-bribes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=6656","title":{"rendered":"Former Charlotte Mayor Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Former<\/a>CHARLOTTE, NC<\/strong>\u2014 The former mayor of Charlotte was sentenced Tuesday to three years and eight months in prison for accepting bribes, officials said.<\/p>\n

Former Mayor Patrick D. Cannon, 47, accepted more than $50,000 in bribes, authorities said.<\/p>\n

U.S. District Court Judge Frank D. Whitney also ordered Cannon to pay a $10,000 fine and forfeiture in the amount of $50,500.<\/p>\n

Judge Whitney commented on the seriousness of the offense, stating that public corruption undermines the legitimacy of government and the public\u2019s faith in its elected leaders and it feeds the cynics who believe that all government is corrupt.<\/p>\n

The NBC affiliate in Charlotte had video of Cannon leaving the courthouse after sentencing.<\/a><\/p>\n

U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tompkins said Cannon betrayed the public’s trust.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatrick Cannon betrayed the public\u2019s trust and embarrassed the city he was elected to serve. Cannon accepted more than $50,000 in bribes, but the social injury to this community is far deeper. While the perception of rampant public corruption can slowly tear a community apart, justice can bind us together and restore our faith in our government.,” said \u00a0Tompkins.<\/p>\n

Adding, “Today, Cannon was held accountable for using his official position for personal gain. His sentence is also a reminder that my office will prosecute those who put personal interests ahead of the people they were elected to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Tompkins says the investigation is ongoing, six months after his arrest, Cannon is still the only person to be charged as a result of the FBI’s investigation that started three years ago, according to WCNC,<\/a> an NBC affiliate.<\/p>\n

According to filed court documents, \u00a0from 2009 to March 2014, while serving as City Council Member and\/or Mayor Pro Tem, and later as the Mayor of Charlotte, Cannon solicited and accepted bribes such as gifts, cash and other things of value totaling over $50,000, in exchange for a pattern of official actions.<\/p>\n

Court records show that Cannon accepted the bribes from a Charlotte business owner and two undercover agents posing as investors interested in opening businesses in Charlotte, in exchange for use of his official position on an \u201cas needed\u201d basis.<\/p>\n

Cannon also promised to use his influence with city and county officials and others to assist his payors\u2019 with business projects and to intervene with any zoning, permitting and transportation issues, among others.<\/p>\n

In June 2014, Cannon pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud, court records indicate.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatrick Cannon sold his oath of office, violated the integrity of our government, and betrayed the citizens of Charlotte. Public corruption will not be tolerated; no matter the position or names of those involved. As outlined in the criminal complaint, the FBI is uniquely positioned to dedicate whatever resources necessary to expose even the most deeply entrenched and secretive pay to play schemes,\u201d said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina.<\/p>\n

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