Thursday, July 29, 2010
Former liquor control officer, James Allen Morgan, was indicted on the charge of bribery, for soliciting monetary benefits in exchange for using his position with St. Louis city to help an applicant obtain a liquor license for a new bar, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Thursday.
Prosecutors gave the following account of the case:
- The indictment alleges that during November and December 2009, Morgan met with the applicant several times and suggested that he (Morgan) be hired to manage the new bar at a salary of $60,000 per year plus a $10,000 “signing bonus”. In return, Morgan promised the applicant that he could guarantee there would be no problem obtaining and maintaining a liquor license from the City. Morgan’s promises included control or influence over both the City’s Excise Commissioner who supervises licensed establishments and the Alderwoman in whose ward the bar would be located.
- U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan emphasized there was no evidence to support Morgan’s claims of improper influence.
- In December 2009, when the city of St. Louis issued the new liquor license, Morgan agreed to accept $1,000 cash from the applicant as a reward for his efforts in helping obtain the liquor license.
Roland J. Corvington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI St. Louis Division, noted that several high profile public officials have gone to jail in the last year and expressed the hope, “that all public officials realize that if they abuse their positions of trust, they will get caught.”
Morgan, 41, of St. Louis, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of bribery. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.
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