Four NCAA Division I basketball coaches are among 10 people being federally charged in a fraud and corruption case, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release.
According to media reports, the four coaches involved are Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person, Southern California assistant Tony Bland, Arizona assistant Emanuel Richardson and Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans.
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Team managers, financial advisors, and representatives of a major international sportswear company are also among those charged in the case, the DOJ release said.
James Gatto, Adidas Basketball's head of global marketing, was among those targeted in the probe, according to court documents filed Monday.
"Today, we became aware that federal investigators arrested an Adidas employee. We are learning more about the situation. We're unaware of any misconduct and will fully cooperate with authorities to understand more," Adidas said in a statement.
The investigation has revealed instances of alleged bribes paid to assistant and associate basketball coaches to show influence over student athletes, according to court documents.
At a news conference detailing the charges Tuesday afternoon, federal authorities said the FBI has been investigating the criminal influence of money on NCAA coaches and players since 2015.
"The investigation has revealed several instances in which coaches have exercised that influence by steering players and their families to retain particular advisers, not because of the merits of those advisers, but because the coaches were being bribed by the advisers to do so," the papers said.