AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) – Two former FirstEnergy executives were indicted on public corruption charges for their alleged roles in the House Bill 6 scandal, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich announced Thursday.
Charles Jones faces the following charges:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of telecommunications fraud (F1)
- One count of conspiracy (F2)
- One count of bribery (F3)
- One count of tampering with evidence (F3)
- Two counts of obstructing justice (F5)
Michael Dowling faces the following charges:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of telecommunications fraud (F1)
- One count of conspiracy (F2)
- One count of bribery (F3)
- 14 counts of tampering with records (F3)
The indictment maintains that between 2010 and 2021, the defendants – as part of a criminal enterprise – carried out a large-scale covert scheme to bribe state officials and illegally advance FirstEnergy’s financial interests alongside their own, according to a news release from Yost.
The first jury trial for Dowling and Jones began Jan. 27 in front of Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross…