Two former FirstEnergy executives have been indicted on public corruption charges in connection with the House Bill 6 scandal, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich announced on Thursday.
Charles Jones faces the following charges:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of telecommunications fraud (F1)
- One count of conspiracy (F2)
- One count of bribery (F3)
- One count of tampering with evidence (F3)
- Two counts of obstructing justice (F5)
Michael Dowling faces the following charges:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of telecommunications fraud (F1)
- One count of conspiracy (F2)
- One count of bribery (F3)
- 14 counts of tampering with records (F3)
According to a Yost news release, the indictment alleges that the defendants, as part of a criminal enterprise, carried out a large-scale covert plot to bribe state officials and fraudulently advance FirstEnergy’s financial interests alongside their own between 2010 and 2021.
Dowling and Jones’ first jury trial began on Jan. 27 in front of Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross.
On April 1, Judge Ross declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a judgment.
Over the course of the six-week trial, the prosecution called 26 witnesses.
Jones and Dowling were originally charged in February 2024, together with Samuel “Sam” Randazzo, the former head of Ohio’s Public Utilities Commission.
Randazzo committed suicide prior to the trial.
Leave a Reply