Two former FirstEnergy executives have been reindicted on corruption-related charges tied to Ohio’s House Bill 6 scandal, setting the stage for a new trial later this year.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich announced Thursday that a Summit County grand jury has returned a new indictment against former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and former Senior Vice President Michael Dowling.
The pair now face a combined 22 felony charges, including allegations of bribery, conspiracy, telecommunications fraud, tampering with records and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Prosecutors allege that between 2010 and 2021, Jones and Dowling participated in a scheme designed to influence state government decisions for FirstEnergy’s financial benefit. Investigators claim the effort included payments connected to former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo and attempts to conceal the activity through false or misleading records.
The reindictment comes just months after a Summit County jury was unable to reach a verdict following a two-month trial, resulting in a mistrial.
According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the latest indictment includes additional allegations and charges that were not part of the original 2024 case. Prosecutors say a new trial team reviewed evidence gathered since the first indictment, including information that emerged through ongoing civil litigation involving FirstEnergy.
Among the changes, prosecutors added new charges against Jones, including allegations involving obstruction of justice and evidence tampering. The updated indictment also broadens allegations involving former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who was convicted in federal court in the broader House Bill 6 scandal and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
House Bill 6 remains one of the largest public corruption cases in Ohio history. The legislation provided financial support for nuclear power plants and became the focus of investigations into alleged bribery and political influence.
FirstEnergy previously admitted to paying millions of dollars in bribes to public officials, agreed to cooperate with federal investigators, and paid a $230 million penalty as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.
Randazzo, who was originally charged alongside Jones and Dowling, died before the first trial began.
Jones and Dowling have denied wrongdoing. As with all criminal cases, they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The retrial is expected to begin in Summit County Common Pleas Court in September.
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