CHARLOTTE — The mayor of Charlotte*has been arrested on public corruption charges.
Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon, who has been in office 114 days, was arrested by FBI agents Wednesday.
Cannon, 47, faces several charges including theft and bribery.
The arrest follows an undercover investigation that began in August 2010. Authorities allege Cannon solicited and accepted cash from undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers and investors who wanted to do business in Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city.
Cannon allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for the privileges of his position as an elected official, whether it be as mayor, mayor pro tem or a city council member.
The FBI said he accepted money from agents on five separate occasions. The last was on Feb. 21, 2014. He is accused of accepting $20,000 in cash at the mayor's office. The exchanges began in January 2013, according to the Department of Justice.
In total, Cannon accepted about $48,000 in cash, airline tickets, a hotel room and use of a luxury apartment, the FBI said.
Cannon is free on a $25,000 unsecured bond.
If convicted of all charges, he faces 20 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines.
Cannon was elected mayor in November, replacing Anthony Foxx, who was named Transportation Secretary by President Barack Obama.
Damn my city racking up Ls this offesason.....
Charlotte mayor arrested for public corruption