Two former FirstEnergy Corp. executives and a former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio pleaded not guilty Feb. 13 to charges related to their alleged roles in a racketeering conspiracy that led to a $1-billion state-funded bailout of two nuclear plants, and funneled $61 million in bribes to politicians, lobbyists and their aides.  

Former FirstEnergy CEO Charles E. Jones, former Senior Vice President Michael J. Dowling and former PUCO Chairman Samuel Randazzo, were indicted Feb. 12 by a Summit County grand jury on charges of participating in a corrupt enterprise. The three face a total of 27 felony counts including bribery, theft, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with records and money laundering. The state’s indictment marks the first time any FirstEnergy executives have been criminally charged for allegedly being involved in the case that previously saw former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges convicted of federal racketeering crimes.