© 2025 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Amid orders to cut funding for public media, here’s what you can do to help.

Sentencing handed down for former St. Louis liquor control officer

(via Flickr/steakpinball)

In November 2010, James Allen Morgan, a former St. Louis city liquor control officer, plead guilty to bribery charges. Today, Morgan found out just how he'll be punished.

According to a Department of Justice press release, Morgan received the following sentence:

  • Five months in prison
  • Five months home confinement
  • Two years of supervised release

And what was Morgan's crime?

In short, Morgan used his position to bribe a liquor license applicant in exchange for monetary gain, and possible employment. The release explains:

"According to court documents, during November and December 2009, Morgan  met with the applicant several times and suggested that he (Morgan) be hired to manage the new bar, receiving a salary plus a  “signing bonus” in order to purchase an automobile.  In return, Morgan promised the applicant that he could guarantee there would be no problem obtaining and maintaining a St. Louis city liquor license. 

In December 2009, when the City of St. Louis issued the new liquor license, Morgan demanded and agreed to accept $1,000 cash from the applicant as a reward for his efforts in helping obtain the liquor license."