Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday that a Summit County grand jury has returned a new 22-count indictment against former FirstEnergy CEO Charles “Chuck” Jones and ex-lobbyist Michael Dowling, reviving criminal prosecutions that stalled after a mistrial in March.
Yost, a Republican, joined Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich in detailing the charges, which include one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, bribery, conspiracy and tampering with evidence, and two counts each of telecommunications fraud against both men. The indictment also charges Jones with two counts of obstructing justice and Dowling with 14 additional counts of tampering with records.
“The roots of this complex case haven’t changed — FirstEnergy was hijacked by two scheming executives who sought to control the regulator that influenced the company’s stock prices,” Yost said in a statement. “I’m confident that Ohio’s ratepayers will get justice when the facts are unearthed in the courtroom.”
Jones and Dowling were first charged in 2024 as part of a sweeping investigation into a $60 million bribery scheme that prosecutors say involved payments to secure legislative and regulatory benefits for FirstEnergy. The scandal already led to the conviction of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges. The original trial of Jones and Dowling ended in a mistrial on March 31 after jurors failed to reach a verdict following weeks of testimony.
The new indictment comes as the broader scandal continues to ripple through Ohio politics. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, who testified in the first trial via remote call, faces a re-election bid shadowed by his connections to the case. The state’s former utility regulator Sam Randazzo, who was also implicated, died by suicide in 2024 as investigators closed in.
No court date has been set for the reindicted charges. Jones and Dowling have maintained their innocence.