Two CNY-based developers are facing federal corruption charges connected to one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's former top aides, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan announced Thursday morning.

Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, the two owners of COR Development, are among nine people facing charges related to an alleged pay-to-play scheme that helped them secure millions of dollars work of taxpayer-funded state contracts.

The complaint alleges that in 2014 COR Development went through an Albany-based lobbyist to help them avoid a state-mandated labor agreement that would have them pay more to construction workers on a state-funded project in Syracuse. Court documents state the lobbyist, Todd Howe, is cooperating with investigators and pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud and extortion. He is cooperating with the statement. Howe, the complaint states, connected Aiello and Gerardi to Joseph Percoco, an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to have him pressure Empire State Development drop the labor requirement. In exchange, COR Development allegedly funneled $35,000 to Percoco through Howe's lobbyist firm.

ESD would eventually drop the labor agreement after being pressured by Percoco, the complaint alleges. COR Development had received $1.5 million in state funds toward the project, documents state.

Percoco also used his position within state government to help COR Development receive a payout of more than $14 million in state money that had been awarded to the Syracuse-based company to build a film studio connected to SUNY's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, or CNSE, but had yet to be paid out due to backlogs, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's complaint states.

COR Development would have and expanded relationship with Howe, who also worked as a consultant for CNSE, Bharara alleges. COR paid Howe $14,000 a month and in turn, Howe used his influence at CNSE to help COR secure lucrative state development contracts, documents state.

When the relationship between Aiello and Howe began in 2011, Howe told Aiello, Gerardi and others at COR to make political contributions to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's campaign. Between 2011 and 2013, those connected with COR contributed about $250,000 to Cuomo's campaigns, court records allege.

Using Howe's connection to CNSE, COR was able to secure contracts to build a $90 million manufacturing plant and the $15 million film hub.

Aiello also allegedly pressured Howe and Percoco to secure a significant raise for his son, who worked for the state in the Executive Chamber.

Aiello and Gerardi were charged with five counts: committing fraud, two counts of payments of bribes and gratuities, wire fraud conspiracy and lying to federal officials about those payments.

The two counts of fraud carry a maximum sentence of 20 years and $250,000 in fines The two counts of payments of bribes and gratuities carry a maximum sentence of 10 years and $250,000 in fines. And the count of lying to federal officials carries a five year maximum sentence with $250,000 in fines.

They were released Thursday on conditions including a $100,000 bond, they had to surrender passports and Gerardi has to surrender all firearms.  Their travel is also restricted to Northern District of New York.

They are set to appear October 6 in New York City.  

Aiello and Gerardi’s attorney Stephen Coffey did not have a comment. Neither did either of the men.

Another major project COR has the lead on is the redevlopment of the former Mercy hospital site in Watertown. Mayor Joseph Butler said that he is trying to contact the company to find out if the complaint will impact that project.

COR previously submitted plans to build three apartment buildings, two office buildings, and a community center between Stone and Arsenal Streets.