COLUMBUS — Ohio’s former top utility regulator has pleaded not guilty in connection with a $60 million bribery scheme.
Former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chair Sam Randazzo entered his plea Monday in federal court in Cincinnati.
The 74-year-old Randazzo, of Columbus, faces 11 counts centered on allegations he accepted bribes from Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. in exchange for regulatory favors.
The indictment marks the latest turn in a sweeping corruption scandal related to a legislative bailout of two nuclear power plants.
Former House Speaker Larry Householder is serving 20 years in prison for masterminding the scheme.
“Public officials – whether elected or appointed – are tasked with upholding the highest level of integrity in their duties and responsibilities. Such service to the public must be selfless, not selfish,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker.
Randazzo, who served as PUCO chairman from April 2019 until his resignation in November 2020, faces one count of conspiring to commit travel act bribery and honest services wire fraud, two counts of travel act bribery, two counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of wire fraud and five counts of making illegal monetary transactions, Parker said.
The charging document alleges that Randazzo also used his consulting business, Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio, Inc., to carry out an embezzlement scheme, funneling at least a million dollars meant for an industry association to himself.
According to the indictment, Randazzo allegedly received more than $4.3 million from an FirstEnergy and its affiliates to provide favorable official actions for the company through PUCO proceedings.
“This latest indictment in the ongoing utility corruption scandal is not surprising. We await more information regarding the former Chair’s dealings, but one thing is clear: the actions of greedy utility companies and corrupt state officials have hurt Ohioans,” said Nolan Rutschilling, managing director of energy policy for the Ohio Environmental Council.
If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Randazzo could face up to 20 years in prison.