• Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and Senior VP Michael Dowling indicted on racketeering charges.
• The scheme involved over $60 million in bribes to pass a bailout for nuclear plants.
• Prosecutors emphasize the impact on Ohio taxpayers and the executives' efforts to enrich themselves.
• Last year, former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years for his role in the scandal.
• The indictment marks a significant step in prosecuting those behind the bribery instead of just the recipients.

Federal authorities have indicted two former executives of FirstEnergy Corporation in connection with a wide-reaching $60 million bribery scheme that has become one of the most notable corruption scandals in Ohio's history. Ex-CEO Chuck Jones and former Senior Vice President Michael Dowling turned themselves in on Friday and now face charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a law aimed at combating organized crime.

The indictment alleges that Jones and Dowling participated in a detailed effort to secure a $1 billion bailout for two failing nuclear plants owned by FirstEnergy, engaging in activities such as bribery, money laundering, and obstruction of justice to enrich themselves and bolster the company's stock value. Both executives were previously dismissed by FirstEnergy in October 2020 as the fallout from the scandal began to unfold.

This indictment follows a series of federal charges against former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023 for orchestrating the bribery effort. The scandal has resulted in multiple convictions and considerable media coverage as it continues to unfold. The FBI has taken a strong stance, with special agent Elena Iatarola remarking, “This alleged $60 million racketeering conspiracy defrauded Ohioans to enrich the defendants.”

According to the federal indictment, FirstEnergy used its influence and substantial financial contributions to help Householder gain political power and secure the passage of House Bill 6, which mandated millions of consumers pay fees to keep the nuclear plants in operation. The scandal has already sent shockwaves across the political landscape of Ohio, leading to the imprisonment of influential figures and extensive investigations into corporate practices.

Text messages from Jones and Dowling revealed an attitude of glee over their success in instrumentalizing state legislation for their gain, with one message detailing, “Huge bet and we played it all right on the (state) budget and HB6, so we can go back for more!” FirstEnergy has taken steps to reform its corporate governance in the wake of these indictments, but continued scrutiny remains likely.

For more details on the indictments and implications of this case, visit the full articles on AP News and USA Today.