Charles 'Chuck' Jones and Michael Dowling

Charles Jones, former CEO of FirstEnergy Corp., and Michael Dowling, former senior vice president of external affairs, were fired in October 2020 for code of conduct violations. Both are central figures in the House Bill 6 scandal involving an alleged $4.3 million bribe paid to former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo to influence regulatory and legislative outcomes. In January 2026, the two men are scheduled for a state-level trial in Summit County. They were reindicted in June 2026 on 22 felony counts, including racketeering, bribery, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence. A previous trial in early 2026 ended in a hung jury. While state prosecutors previously charged them with aggravated theft, the judge dismissed those counts in May 2025. Additionally, they face federal charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Jones also faces a 2024 civil suit from the SEC for allegedly misleading stockholders.