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The mayor of Charlotte, N.C. -- the state's largest city and the site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention -- resigned Wednesday hours after he was charged with federal public corruption and accused of taking bribes in an FBI sting.
City spokesman Keith Richardson said Mayor Patrick Cannon submitted his resignation letter Wednesday to the city manager and attorney.
The 47-year-old Cannon is accused of accepting more than $48,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen who wanted to do work with Charlotte.
A criminal complaint from the U.S. Attorney says the Democrat, who has been mayor for six months, accepted cash, airline tickets, a hotel room and the use of a luxury apartment as bribes and solicited more than $1 million more.
During the last encounter, according to the U.S. attorney's office, he accepted $20,000 in cash.
Cannon says in the letter that the pending charges will create too much of a distraction for the business of the city to go forward
According to the U.S. attorney's office, the FBI first learned that he may have been involved in illegal activities years ago and started an investigation in 2010.
During the course of that probe, the mayor allegedly accepted bribes from undercover FBI agents on five separate occasions, in exchange for access to city officials responsible for planning, zoning and permitting.
If convicted on all the charges, he faces 20 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines.
Cannon was elected mayor in November, replacing Anthony Foxx. Foxx was named Transportation Secretary by President Obama.
City spokesman Keith Richardson said Mayor Patrick Cannon submitted his resignation letter Wednesday to the city manager and attorney.
The 47-year-old Cannon is accused of accepting more than $48,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen who wanted to do work with Charlotte.
A criminal complaint from the U.S. Attorney says the Democrat, who has been mayor for six months, accepted cash, airline tickets, a hotel room and the use of a luxury apartment as bribes and solicited more than $1 million more.
During the last encounter, according to the U.S. attorney's office, he accepted $20,000 in cash.
Cannon says in the letter that the pending charges will create too much of a distraction for the business of the city to go forward
According to the U.S. attorney's office, the FBI first learned that he may have been involved in illegal activities years ago and started an investigation in 2010.
During the course of that probe, the mayor allegedly accepted bribes from undercover FBI agents on five separate occasions, in exchange for access to city officials responsible for planning, zoning and permitting.
If convicted on all the charges, he faces 20 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines.
Cannon was elected mayor in November, replacing Anthony Foxx. Foxx was named Transportation Secretary by President Obama.