US·United States
Charles Jones and Michael Dowling
former CEO and lobbyist
active
LINKED SCANDALS
8
LEGAL EVENTS
0
RESEARCH
29 days ago
SANCTIONS
CLEAR
Deep research · Exaupdated 29 days ago
Charles E. Jones, former CEO of FirstEnergy, and Michael Dowling, the company’s former senior vice president of external affairs, are central figures in a multi-year corruption and bribery scandal.
In September 2024, the SEC charged Jones with fraud for his role in a $60 million scheme to bribe former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. The SEC alleges Jones misled investors and auditors, funneled money through tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organizations, and violated federal securities laws.
Jones and Dowling further face state criminal charges for allegedly bribing former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo with $4.3 million to influence regulatory decisions. After a 2026 trial ended in a mistrial, both men were reindicted. While a judge dismissed theft charges in 2025, they remain charged with bribery, corruption, money laundering, and tampering with records. Both also face federal racketeering charges.
Citations
Summit County SUMMIT COUNBrrupt Activity with Specifications (ORC 2923.32) (FT) (1
s3.documentcloud.org
Ex-FirstEnergy executives’ bribery case ends in hung jury - Signal Ohio
signalohio.org · 2026-03-31
Summit Co. judge dismisses theft counts for former FirstEnergy execs
www.timesreporter.com · 2025-05-29
SEC.gov | Charles E. Jones
www.sec.gov
: : : : : : v. : No. 5:24-cv-1560 :
www.sec.gov
Former FirstEnergy execs indicted again in bribery case
www.beaconjournal.com · 2026-06-04
FirstEnergy execs reindicted in bribery scandal after hung jury | Crime | daytondailynews.com
www.daytondailynews.com · 2026-06-05
Federal indictment of former FirstEnergy CEO Charles Jones and lobbyist Michael Dowling | DocumentCloud
www.documentcloud.org
Linked scandals← back
SEV-4
US·United States·2 months ago
Ex-FirstEnergy executives reindicted
Two former FirstEnergy Corp. executives were reindicted on 22 new criminal counts for their role in a $60 million bribery scheme.
briberyreindicted
SEV-4
US·United States·2 months ago
Ex-FirstEnergy executives reindicted in corruption scheme
Former FirstEnergy executives were reindicted in a bribery scandal after a hung jury.
briberyreindicted
SEV-5
US·United States·2 months ago
Ex-FirstEnergy executives reindicted in bribery scandal
Former FirstEnergy executives were reindicted in Ohio for their roles in a $60 million bribery scandal.
briberyreindicted
SEV-5
US·United States·2 months ago
Former FirstEnergy executives indicted again on public corruption charges
Former FirstEnergy executives Charles Jones and Michael Dowling were reindicted on public corruption charges after a mistrial.
corruptionindicted
SEV-5
US·United States·2 months ago
Ex-FirstEnergy executives reindicted in Ohio in $60 million corruption scheme
Former FirstEnergy executives Charles Jones and Michael Dowling were reindicted in Ohio on charges related to a $60 million corruption scheme.
corruptionindicted
SEV-5
US·United States·2 months ago
Former FirstEnergy executives reindicted on public corruption charges
Former FirstEnergy executives were reindicted on public corruption charges after a mistrial.
corruptionreindicted
SEV-5
US·United States·2 months ago
Ex-FirstEnergy executives reindicted in Ohio
Two former FirstEnergy Corp. executives were reindicted in Ohio for a $60 million corruption scheme.
briberyreindicted
SEV-5
US·United States·2 months ago
Ex-FirstEnergy executives reindicted in Ohio corruption scheme
Former FirstEnergy executives Charles Jones and Michael Dowling were reindicted on charges related to a $60 million corruption scheme.
corruptionreindicted