Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the
case, stated that according to the complaint, after receiving information
regarding an unusually close relationship between a member of the New York
State Assembly (Member A), a member other than Errigo, and a lobbyist, the FBI
began investigating that relationship, to include a specific bribery scheme. The purpose of the proposed bribe was to
induce Member A to introduce certain legislation. The legislation at issue involved reducing the extent of
local control over a pending development project in the Rochester area, and
giving the state the ability to review the development project with the New
York State Department of Transportation. The scheme initially included the
person offering to pay the bribe (bribe payor), a registered New York State
lobbyist (lobbyist), and Member A.
On September 4, 2017, the bribe payor and lobbyist met to
discuss paying Member A money in exchange for legislation aimed at altering the
proposed development project. During the
conversation, the lobbyist suggested utilizing Errigo to introduce the legislation,
so that the bill could not be traced to Member A. Member A, however, would
assist in getting the legislation through a specific committee, according to
the lobbyist.
On September 8, 2017, the bribe payor and lobbyist met once
again. The bribe payor stated that he would have cash in the next week or so to
give to the lobbyist and Member A. The lobbyist confirmed that he would accept
the money and that the bill would be introduced within a month.
On September 26, 2017, the bribe payor met the lobbyist at a
public location and handed the lobbyist two envelopes, each containing $1,500.
The lobbyist stated he would use the money to “grease the skids with Errigo.”
From October to December 2017, the bribe payor and lobbyist
exchanged numerous text messages about arranging a meeting to pay Errigo to
introduce the proposed legislation
The lobbyist scheduled a meeting between the bribe payor and
Errigo on February 9, 2018, at the Assemblyman’s office in Pittsford, NY. At
some point during the meeting, Errigo and the bribe payor exited the office
together and walked to Errigo’s car, where the bribe payor placed an envelope
on the front passenger seat. Subsequently, the lobbyist also arrived at
Errigo’s office. The FBI has determined that the envelope contained $1,500 in
cash. Also on February 9, 2018, the bribe payor emailed the lobbyist specific
language for the proposed legislation that Errigo was going to introduce. On
March 16, 2018, the bribe payor met with Errigo and provided him another
payment of $2,000.
On March 27, 2018, Errigo introduced a bill consisting of
the proposed legislation. Also on March 27, 2018, the bribe payor met with the
lobbyist and paid him for his help in getting the legislation introduced. The
FBI determined that the payment consisted of $2,000 in cash.
On April 13, 2018, the bribe payor met with Errigo and paid
him $2,000 in cash for obtaining a bill number for the proposed legislation.
The bribe payor paid a total of at least $10,500 to Errigo
and the lobbyist to assign a bill number to a proposed bill, and thereby
introduce legislation and begin the process of obtaining passage of a State
law. Errigo accepted a total of $5,500.
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon
before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson. The complaint is the result of an
investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of
Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
