Former N.C. mayor gets nearly 4 years in prison for corruption


Patrick Cannon, former mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced on Tuesday to almost four years in prison.
Cannon, who was elected as the youngest councilman in Charlotte in 1993, resigned after his federal case began. In June, Cannon pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud, according to The Associated Press. Cannon apparently accepted roughly $50,000 in bribes as a city councilman.
The corruption "spanned the time he was a councilman to when he took over in the executive office," from January 2013 to February 2014. Cannon was elected mayor in November 2013. He resigned on March 26, the same day he was arrested.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
During Tuesday's trial, prosecutors told Cannon that he "tarnished the city's image" before sentencing him to 44 months in prison.
"I have failed as a father, I have failed as a husband, I failed as a servant leader, and I failed as a citizen," Cannon said at the trial.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Thieves nab French crown jewels from Louvre
Speed Read A gang of thieves stole 19th century royal jewels from the Paris museum’s Galerie d’Apollon
-
Bolivia elects centrist over far-right presidential rival
Speed Read Relative political unknown Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, was elected president
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read