Ex-FirstEnergy CEO, top lobbyist and former top Ohio utility regulator booked in Summit County Jail; released on bond

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Former FirstEnergy Corp. executives, indicted on state public corruption charges, were booked and released Monday from the Summit County Jail after posting 10 percent of $100,000 bond.

Former FirstEnergy CEO Charles Jones and top lobbyist Michael Dowling, as well as former top state utilities regulator Samuel Randazzo, are to be arraigned Tuesday in Summit County Common Pleas Court.

In a news conference Monday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said a Summit County grand jury indicted Jones, Dowling and Randazzo on Friday. They promised to surrender at the Summit County Jail on Monday morning.

Judge Susan Baker Ross, who is presiding over the case, set the men’s bonds after speaking with attorneys Monday morning, and the three were formally charged at the jail. She will oversee the men’s first court appearances Tuesday. The bond of 10% of $100,000 is somewhat standard for those accused of nonviolent major felonies in Summit County Common Pleas Court.

The three were charged with 27 felony counts that include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, grand theft, bribery and money laundering. In addition to the three men, two companies Randazzo controlled also face charges.

The indictments announced on Monday are the latest development in a larger, yearslong corruption scandal that has already sent former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matthew Borges to federal prison and resulted in charges and convictions two others. Randazzo was charged last month in federal court involving the scheme.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer does not regularly publish booking photos, but it has made an exception because of the notoriety and seriousness of the crimes.

State prosecutors allege the new charges stem from payments that Jones and Dowling made to Randazzo, who was the chairman of the state utility’s commission. Prosecutors said the payments were to curry favor from Randazzo, who authorities said helped write House Bill 6. The controversial piece of legislation involved Jones and Dowling steering $60 million in payments to Householder and his allies in exchange for a $1.3 billion bail out of two nuclear plants owned by a FirstEnergy subsidiary, according to court documents.

Monday’s charges mark the first time that charges have been filed against any current or former FirstEnergy officials. It is also the first time state-level charges have been filed in the scandal.

In a statement, Carole Rendon, Jones’ attorney, said authorities have spread a false narrative about the case.

“Mr. Jones did not violate the law,” Rendon said. “He did not bribe anyone. He acted in the best interests of FirstEnergy’s customers, as well as its employees and investors, and never betrayed their trust…”

Dowling’s defense attorneys released a statement denying the charges.

“The allegations of this indictment are completely false and are not supported by any credible evidence whatsoever,” the statement said. “It is shocking that a public prosecutor’s office would return an irresponsible indictment and have no evidence to support the charges in the indictment.”

Dowling’s defense attorneys released a statement denying the charges.

“The allegations of this indictment are completely false and are not supported by any credible evidence whatsoever,” the statement said. “It is shocking that a public prosecutor’s office would return an irresponsible indictment and have no evidence to support the charges in the indictment.”

Randazzo’s attorney, Richard Blake, could not be reached for comment. In civil filings, attorneys for Randazzo have denied wrongdoing.

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