Two fired FirstEnergy Corp. executives have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a $60-million bribery scheme.

CEO Chuck Jones and senior vice president Michael Dowling were fired in October 2020 for violating company policies and its code of conduct, but the lack of indictments had been notable as a five-year statute of limitations neared.

The long-running investigation already has resulted in a 20-year prison sentence for a former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. FirstEnergy has 6 million customers across the Northeast, including Pennsylvania, where the utility giant operates as Penn Power and West Penn Power.

Monday's announcement by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost included additional charges against Sam Randazzo, former chairman of the public utilities commission of Ohio, who already is facing 11 charges centered on allegations he accepted bribes from the Akron, Ohio-based utility giant in exchange for regulatory favors.

Randazzo resigned in November 2020 after FBI agents searched his Columbus home and FirstEnergy revealed in security filings that it had paid him $4.3 million for his future help at the commission a month before Gov. Mike DeWine nominated him as Ohio’s top utility regulator.

In June 2023, former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in orchestrating the scheme, and lobbyist Matt Borges, a former chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, was sentenced to five years.

Householder was convicted of leading a scheme to secretly receive $60 million from FirstEnergy, a bankroll that helped fund his political operation, pass legislation worth more than $1 billion for the company, and pay off his personal debts.

Jones, Dowling and Randazzo face a combined 27 new felony counts announced by Yost, including bribery, theft, engaging in corrupt activity, tampering with records and money laundering.

The long-awaited indictments mark the latest development in what has been labeled the largest corruption case in Ohio history.

As homeowners struggle to keep the lights on and their homes warm — often cutting corners on groceries and other necessities to do so — we find it inexcusable these well-paid executives determined it necessary to pad their wallets at the expense of their customers.

We hope Jones and Dowling, if found guilty of the charges, are sentenced to the maximum prison terms and fines applicable.

– JG