Judge dismisses money laundering charges against former FirstEnergy execs

Chuck Jones and Mike Dowling still face several other charges in their bribery trial.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 1:41am

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A Summit County judge has dismissed money laundering charges against two former FirstEnergy executives, Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling, but they still face several other charges including racketeering, conspiracy, bribery, telecommunications fraud, and theft. The judge ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient to sustain a conviction on the money laundering charges.

Why it matters

This high-profile case involves allegations of bribery and corruption at the highest levels of Ohio's energy industry. The dismissal of the money laundering charges is a setback for prosecutors, but the executives still face significant legal jeopardy on the remaining charges related to the $1 billion bailout of two nuclear power plants owned by FirstEnergy.

The details

The money laundering charges were also removed as predicate offenses for several of the other counts against Jones and Dowling. The prosecution has rested its case, and on Wednesday the defense is scheduled to have U.S. Sen. Jon Husted testify over video. Husted has not been accused of wrongdoing, but as Ohio's lieutenant governor-elect, spoke to Dowling on the phone nine times around the time prosecutors say Jones and Dowling bribed Sam Randazzo, the state's former top utilities regulator.

  • On Tuesday, Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross dismissed the money laundering charges against the former FirstEnergy executives.
  • The prosecution has rested its case, and on Wednesday the defense is scheduled to have U.S. Sen. Jon Husted testify over video.

The players

Chuck Jones

Former CEO of FirstEnergy.

Michael Dowling

Former Senior Vice President of FirstEnergy.

Susan Baker Ross

Summit County Common Pleas Judge who dismissed the money laundering charges.

Sam Randazzo

Former top utilities regulator in Ohio who received $4.3 million from FirstEnergy and is accused of making regulatory rulings worth millions of dollars to the company.

Jon Husted

U.S. Senator and Ohio's lieutenant governor-elect, who spoke to Dowling on the phone nine times around the time prosecutors say Jones and Dowling bribed Randazzo.

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What they’re saying

“The evidence presented was 'insufficient to sustain a conviction' on the money laundering charges.”

— Susan Baker Ross, Summit County Common Pleas Judge

What’s next

The defense is scheduled to have U.S. Sen. Jon Husted testify over video on Wednesday.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding allegations of bribery and corruption in Ohio's energy industry. While the dismissal of the money laundering charges is a setback for prosecutors, the former FirstEnergy executives still face significant legal jeopardy on the remaining charges.