FBI agents on Wednesday arrested the mayor of Charlotte , North Carolina , for allegedly taking tens of thousands of dollars worth of bribes `` in exchange for the use of his official position , '' the U.S. attorney 's office said . Patrick D. Cannon , 47 , faces federal charges of theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds , honest services wire fraud and extortion under color of official right , according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins of western North Carolina . The Charlotte mayor 's office declined a CNN request for comment . However , CNN obtained a copy of Cannon 's resignation letter , sent to City of Charlotte Manager Ron Carlee and City Attorney Bob Hagemann . `` I hereby give notice of my resignation from the position of the Mayor of the City of Charlotte , effective immediately . In light of the charges that have been brought against me , it is my judgment that the pendency of these charges will create too much of a distraction for the business of the City to go forward smoothly and without interruption , '' Cannon wrote in the letter . `` I regret that I have to take this action , but I believe that it is in the best interest of the City for me to do so . '' First elected to City Council in 1993 -- when he was 26 and two years removed from graduating from North Carolina A & T State University -- the Democrat served through 2005 , including the last four years as mayor pro tem . Cannon , the president of a private parking business , spent four years out of office until being elected to City Council again in 2009 . Between 2010 and 2013 , he served as both a council member and mayor pro tem until his election as mayor in November 2013 . Federal authorities launched their corruption investigation in August 2010 , using FBI agents who posed as commercial real estate developers and investors looking to do business in the North Carolina city , Tompkins ' office said . Investigators documented five separate occasions between January 2013 and February 2014 in which Cannon allegedly took more than $ 48,000 in cash , airline tickets , a hotel room and a luxury apartment from the undercover agents . In the last instance , authorities say Cannon got $ 20,000 in cash in the mayor 's office . He allegedly accepted the largesse in exchange for returning the favor using his powers as a City Council member , mayor pro tem and , eventually , mayor . Cannon appeared in court Wednesday and was released on bond , the U.S. attorney 's office reported . If convicted on all charges , he could be sentenced to as many as 50 years in federal prison and pay as much as $ 1.5 million in fines , officials said . Cannon succeeded then-Mayor Anthony Foxx , who in July 2013 was sworn in as U.S. Transportation Secretary . Mayor of corrupt Hampton , Florida , resigns -- from jail . Ex-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin guilty .
He refuses , saying such an action is in the best interest of the city . FBI agents arrested former Mayor John Joseph Cannon on corruption charges . He allegedly took over $ 48,000 in cash and more between 2013 and 2014 . The mayor 's office declines bail .