TRENTON – A state tax auditor was charged with demanding a bribe from a South Jersey convenience store owner, according to Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa.

Jerry L. Moore, 33, of Hamilton Township, an auditor employed by the New Jersey Division of Taxation, was arrested Friday, Feb. 10 by detectives of the Division of Criminal Justice at the store in Washington Township, Gloucester County.

Moore was taken into custody after accepting a $900 bribe from the owner. He was charged by summons with second-degree bribery and released after being processed without posting bail.

If convicted, Moore faces five to 10 years in prison, including a mandatory minimum term of five years without parole under the state’s enhancements for public corruption.

An investigation by the state Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau led to his arrest.

“We charge that this state tax auditor used the authority of his public position to shake down a small-business owner for a bribe,” Chiesa said. “The serious criminal charge filed against him should send a very clear and powerful message to government employees who think they can use their public offices for personal profit or advantage.”

Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor said the investigation was prompted by a tip from a member of the public.

The charges allege that Moore visited the convenience store Feb. 2 and told the owner that he must pay $1,000 to avoid an audit. In a subsequent phone call, he allegedly repeated the demand, but the owner asked that the amount be reduced to $800. Moore agreed to $900 and arranged to meet the owner Feb. 10.

Detectives said Moore was arrested at the store immediately after he accepted the $900 cash bribe.

Because the charge is an indictable offense, the case will be presented to a grand jury for potential indictment.

The Division of Taxation has suspended Moore from the position he has held since December 2000.

The investigation was conducted by Deputy Attorney General Peter W. Lee, Sgt. Robert Feriozzi, and Detectives Stacy Scott and Frank Simpson. Detectives John Sheeran, John Neggia, Paul A. Marfino Jr., Michael Duffield and Joseph McCray assisted in the arrest.