Longtime lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy was arrested Thursday, accused of providing bribes to Assemblyman Joseph Errigo.

A criminal complaint accuses Gaddy, a 48-year-old Albany resident, of bribery and wire fraud.

The FBI last month arrested Errigo and also charged him with bribery and wire fraud. Authorities alleged that Errigo, R-Conesus, Livingston County, took money from a lobbyist to introduce legislation designed to impact a Rochester-area development project.

The criminal complaint against Errigo did not name the lobbyist. The Democrat and Chronicle last month cited sources knowledgeable about the investigation saying the lobbyist was Gaddy.

Gaddy and Errigo split about $10,500 in the bribery scheme, court papers allege.

The bribery scheme — the plot to pay money for a piece of legislation — was a plan concocted by the FBI to try to ensnare corrupt politicians.

In an affidavit, FBI Special Agent Daniel Ciavarri wrote that an earlier investigation allegedly "identified potential corrupt acts by Gaddy and various public officials." That investigation focused on theRochester City School District's $1.3 billion school modernization project.

More recently, in 2017, the FBI received a tip of a cozy relationship between Gaddy and a state lawmaker, identified as "Member A" in court papers. A "bribe payor," working with the FBI, then approached Gaddy to see whether he could entice "Member A" to accept a bribe to introduce a piece of legislation.

That so-called "payor" said he represented a wealthy individual willing to pay $15,000 to get legislation introduced. Gaddy allegedly said, 'Yeah, no problem,' when asked to be an intermediary with the lawmaker.

Gaddy suggested approaching Joseph Errigo, the court papers indicate.

The proposed legislation was presented as something to impact the controversial Whole Foods project in Brighton, but, after being introduced by Errigo, went nowhere. "The bribery scenario was a ruse, and from the outset, the FBI did not intend to permit any proposed legislation" to advance, court papers say.

The payor in late 2017 continued to encourage Gaddy to approach “Member A” about the legislation. Court papers say that there was a discussion of getting the legislation into the Transportation Committee, which is chaired by longtime Rochester Assemblyman David Gantt, a Democrat.

In one conversation, Gaddy allegedly said, “My problem with (Member A) is that he’s sick, and he’s not doing anything, so we end up waiting for months.” Gaddy instead allegedly paid Errigo to push the legislation.

Gantt has been ill and rarely attended the last legislative session. He said in a recent telephone interview that he knew nothing of efforts by Gaddy or anyone to bribe lawmakers to introduce legislation.

Gaddy appeared in federal court Thursday afternoon, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian Payson ordered that he undergo a mental health evaluation. He would be required to undergo treatment if it is determined he needs it.

Payson released Gaddy on his own recognizance. He is now represented by the Federal Public Defender's Office.

Payson asked that Gaddy complete a thorough affidavit about his finances to determine whether he can afford to pay for a lawyer. If not, he will continue to be represented by the Federal Public Defender's Office. He is scheduled to return to court Dec. 18.

Even before these criminal allegations, Gaddy's lobbying work in Albany appears to have dried up, state records show.

Gaddy once worked in the office of Gantt, who was a key figure in helping Gaddy build his lobbying business, Excelsior Advocates LLC.

Gaddy’s lobbying company, Excelsior Advocates, lists no active clients on the state website that tracks lobbyists.

The website’s database says the company’s last two clients, the Rochester City School District and the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, ended their contracts with Excelsior in May 2017 and February 2018, respectively.

In February 2017, Gaddy allegedly struck septuagenarian columnist Gloria Winston Al-Sarag in the face and threatened to kill her. Al-Sarag, a friend and supporter of Gantt, writes for The Minority Reporter.

Gaddy pleaded guilty in July 2017 to a non-criminal charge of second-degree harassment in connection with the incident. He was ordered to pay a $250 fine and $120 surcharge and to stay away from Winston Al-Sarag for two years.

Some Rochester-area Democrats had begun urging the transportation authority to end its long-term relationship with Gaddy in the summer of 2017 in light of the Al-Sarag incident.

GCRAIG@Gannett.com

More:Robert Scott Gaddy behind scenes in Joe Errigo bribery, Bill Nojay fraud cases

More:Errigo arrest leads to more back-and-forth between Whole Foods supporters, opponents

More:Exclusive: Lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy's unpaid taxes rose with his profile