Jury deadlocks in corruption trial of 2 ex-FirstEnergy executives

Prosecutors vow to retry the case after jurors fail to reach a verdict in $60M bribery scandal

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:04pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a stack of $100 bills, the edges of the bills visible and the texture of the paper clearly defined, creating a stark, gritty, and investigative aesthetic.The deadlocked trial of two former FirstEnergy executives exposes the shadowy financial dealings that fueled a $60 million bribery scheme.Akron Today

A jury has deadlocked in the trial of two fired FirstEnergy Corp. executives charged for their roles in Ohio's $60 million bribery scandal. Jurors in Akron declared an impasse after more than eight days of deliberations following the six-week trial of former CEO Chuck Jones and former senior vice president Michael Dowling.

Why it matters

The deadlock leaves Jones and Dowling in limbo and comes as a rare blow to prosecutors, who had already secured an admission from FirstEnergy that it underwrote the bribery scheme and saw former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder sentenced to 20 years in prison for orchestrating it.

The details

The case against Jones and Dowling was more nuanced, with the two charged with felony corruption, bribery, conspiracy and aggravated theft for paying $4.3 million to a man who was not yet in a position of influence, though he was well on his way. Prosecutors argued they bribed Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chair-to-be Sam Randazzo for legislative and regulatory favors, while the defense painted Randazzo as 'a thief' and 'a con man' who bore sole responsibility for the misuse of FirstEnergy money.

  • The six-week trial took place in Akron, Ohio.
  • The jury deliberated for more than eight days before declaring an impasse on March 31, 2026.

The players

Chuck Jones

Former CEO of FirstEnergy Corp., one of the defendants in the corruption trial.

Michael Dowling

Former senior vice president of FirstEnergy Corp., the other defendant in the corruption trial.

Sam Randazzo

Former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, who was initially charged alongside Jones and Dowling but died by suicide after pleading not guilty.

Larry Householder

Former Ohio House Speaker, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for orchestrating the $60 million bribery scheme.

Jon Husted

U.S. Senator and former Ohio lieutenant governor, who testified as a witness during the trial.

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What they’re saying

“The state of Ohio can and will retry these defendants. Justice needs to be done.”

— Dave Yost, Republican Ohio Attorney General

“The defense would be 'filing a motion for judgement of acquittal.'”

— John McCaffrey, Lawyer representing Michael Dowling

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to declare a mistrial, and prosecutors have vowed to retry the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexity of corruption trials, where the line between legal and illegal actions can be blurred. The deadlock underscores the challenges prosecutors face in securing convictions, even in high-profile cases with significant evidence of wrongdoing.