Sean O'Donovan was taken into custody in West Yarmouth, officials said.

According to the indictment, a client approached O'Donovan for help in obtaining the permits and approvals necessary to run a marijuana dispensary in Medford.

The recreational sale and use of marijuana was legalized in Massachusetts in November 2016. State law provides for the licensure and operation of recreational adult-use marijuana establishments in Massachusetts, which are regulated by the Cannabis Control Commission.

An agreement between the client and O'Donovan said that if the client received approval, O'Donovan would receive 1 percent of the annual gross profit of the business, which was estimated to be about $100,000 per year.

Medford adopted an ordinance in 2020 that allowed only three dispensaries in the city. It also created an advisory panel to review applications of parties interested in operating a dispensary in Medford. The panel was comprised of several people, including the Medford chief of police.

Officials allege O'Donovan "devised and intended to devise a scheme to deprive the citizens of Medford" through bribery and kickbacks.

O'Donovan, believing that he had reached a corrupt agreement with the police chief "corruptly gave, offered and promised things of value" in exchange for the chief's favorable ranking of O'Donovan's client's application.