The FBI has been investigating the criminal influence of money on coaches and student-athletes since 2015. The probe covered bribes paid to players' advisers, college assistants and others who exude influence over student-athletes.

Three separate complaints related to the incident have been filed in court, one of which names Jim Gatto, Adidas' director of global marketing for basketball, as a defendant, according to the complaint against Richardson, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in New York.

The initial investigation revealed a related scheme involving "significant cash payments" by athletic advisors and executives of Adidas to the families of high school basketball players at the request of coaches at two of the universities in exchange for agreements by the athletes to attend the universities and later to sign with the advisors and Adidas, the complaint says.