ST. LOUIS • A former St. Louis liquor control officer was indicted Thursday on federal bribery charges that claim he tried to shake down a bar owner for thousands of dollars.

Prosecutors said that James Allen Morgan, 41, of St. Louis, approached a man who was trying to open a bar in late 2009, suggesting that he be hired for $60,000 a year to manage the bar. In exchange, Morgan would ensure that the bar received and kept its liquor license through use of his "influence" with an alderman and the city's excise commissioner.

Morgan also expected a $10,000 'signing bonus," officials said.

The indictment does not name the bar, but the Post-Dispatch has determined that it is Soulard's Social House, at 1551 South Seventh Street.

During a Nov. 16 conversation that appears to have been recorded by the FBI, Morgan said he would vouch for the bar with his boss, Excise Commissioner Robert Kraiberg, the indictment claims.

Morgan said that he had a resignation letter ready and said he would approach Kraiberg and vouch for the bar, saying, "Look Bob, I'm going to run this place right, you're not going to have any problems ... " the indictment says. He also allegedly claimed that he would be able to get advance notice of inspections.

He also claimed to have a close relationship with the alderman for the area, Phyllis Young, and could ensure that she would not impose 'severe" conditions on the bar. "Phyllis won't (expletive) with us, really honest and truly," he is quoted as saying.

Federal prosecutors said that there was no evidence to support Morgan's claims of influence with officials.

Kraiberg said in a phone interview Thursday, "Absolutely not."

Young said in an e-mail that she did not know Morgan, did not know the bar at issue "or why he told anyone that he had influence with me."

She continued, "Aldermen don't have a role in terms and conditions placed on a bar unless they live in the petitioning circle," she added, referring to the neighboring area that is polled after a liquor license application is filed.

The license was approved on Dec. 16. That same day, Morgan got some bad news from the bar owner, who said that he couldn't afford to pay, the indictment says. The men eventually settled on $1,000, but it does not appear that the money was ever paid.

Morgan resigned March 1 effective March 31, Kraiberg said.

Kraiberg said that Morgan, who was required by his job to live in the city, cited money as a reason for quitting. Morgan said he couldn't afford to continue to send his two children to private school, Kraiberg said. "He said it was breaking him."

Morgan could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Reached by telephone, Nick Trupiano, brother of Aprille Trupiano, the managing partner of Soulard's Social House, handed the phone to a spokeswoman, Pat Washington. She referred questions to their lawyer, Freeman Bosley Jr.

Bosley declined to confirm that the Trupianos were the bar owners in question, but he did say that people had overheard Morgan approaching the bar owners to ask for money. He said those people then contacted the authorities, who approached the owners for cooperation. The owners had initially rebuffed the alleged bribe request, Bosley said. The lawyer also said that the alleged bribe money requested was never paid.

David Hunn of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.