Former Ohio utility regulator, Sam Randazzo, has surrendered in connection with a $60 million bribery scheme related to a legislative bailout for two Ohio nuclear power plants. The indictment was returned on Nov. 29, and Randazzo faces charges including conspiracy to commit travel act bribery, wire fraud, and making illegal monetary transactions. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
This indictment is part of what has been labeled the largest corruption case in Ohio history, which involved former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges. FirstEnergy, the energy company at the center of the scandal, admitted to its role in the scheme and agreed to pay $230 million in penalties as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.
The scheme involved funneling $60 million in FirstEnergy cash to secure the passage of House Bill 6, a tainted energy bill, and prevent a repeal referendum from reaching the ballot. The indictment alleges that Randazzo helped FirstEnergy by including language in an opinion to address a concerning issue they had coming up in 2024.
Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Maureen Willis called the indictment an important step in bringing justice to Ohio utility consumers and emphasized the need for reform in the PUCO selection process. The indictment of Randazzo is the latest development in a case that has already resulted in multiple indictments and convictions of individuals involved in the bribery scheme.
Source
Photo credit www.pbs.org