Former FirstEnergy Executives Indicted in $60 Million Ohio Bribery Scheme

Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling face federal racketeering charges for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to influence legislation benefiting the energy company.

• Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and Senior Vice President Michael Dowling have been charged with federal racketeering conspiracy in connection with a $60 million bribery scheme.
• The scheme involved payments to secure the passage of House Bill 6, which provided a $1 billion bailout for FirstEnergy's nuclear plants, and to block efforts to repeal the legislation.
• Prosecutors allege the executives used bribery, money laundering, and obstruction to increase FirstEnergy's stock price and personally profit from performance-based pay tied to the company's financial performance.
• The indictment details payments to entities controlled by former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo, both of whom allegedly acted to benefit FirstEnergy.
• FirstEnergy has already admitted to its role in the scheme, paying over $350 million in penalties and settlements, while Householder is serving a 20-year prison sentence for his involvement.

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