2 former FirstEnergy executives to stand trial for HB6 bribery scandal

AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - The jury trial for two former FirstEnergy executives facing criminal charges for their alleged roles in the House Bill 6 scandal, is scheduled to begin in Summit County Court of Common Pleas Tuesday.

Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and former FirstEnergy Senior Vice President Michael Dowling were indicted in February 2024.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 6 into law in 2019.

The $60 million bribery scheme centers on FirstEnergy’s efforts to have state lawmakers pass a bailout of two of its nuclear plants.

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was one of five people arrested in 2020.

Householder, the mastermind of the racketeering operation, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2023.

Jones faces the following 10 charges:

• One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony
• Two counts of aggravated theft of $1.5 million or more, both first-degree felonies
• One count of bribery, a third-degree felony
• Two counts of telecommunications fraud, both first-degree felonies
• Four counts of money laundering, all third degree felonies

Dowling faces the following 12 charges:

• One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony
• Two counts aggravated theft of $1.5 million or more, both first-degree felonies
• One count of bribery, a third-degree felony
• Two counts of telecommunications fraud, both first-degree felonies
• Four counts of money laundering, all third-degree felonies
• Two counts of tampering with records, both third-degree felonies