COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former chairman of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission Sam Randazzo, who had been indicted on dozens of charges related to the largest corruption scheme in state history, has died, according to the Franklin County Coroners Office.
Randazzo, 74, was found Tuesday by Columbus firefighters in a building he owned, according to a spokesperson.
His death is being investigated as a "suspected suicide," the coroner's office said. A ruling on the cause and manner of his death will be made following a scheduled autopsy.
Randazzo pleaded not guilty in both state and federal court after he was charged with crimes related to bribery and embezzlement. He allegedly received more than $4.3 million in bribes from FirstEnergy, according to Department of Justice officials.
Randazzo is allegedly a major player behind the House Bill 6 scandal. FirstEnergy has already admitted to bribing Randazzo with the millions so that he could help the company behind the scenes — in one way — by pushing and helping to create H.B. 6. Back in 2019, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder took a $61 million bribe in exchange for legislation to give FirstEnergy a $1 billion bailout, named H.B. 6, all at the expense of the taxpayers.
Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones, former FirstEnergy Senior Vice President Michael Dowling and Randazzo were all hit with state bribery charges. Each pleaded not guilty during their joint arraignment in mid-February. They are accused of masterminding the corruption scheme.
Attorney General Dave Yost told News 5 Wednesday that he was shocked by Randazzo's death — but it doesn't change anything in terms of his prosecution of the trio. He will continue fighting for justice, he said.
Randazzo was recently in a Summit County court for the state charges in mid-February. There, he argued for the least amount of pre-trial restrictions, such as not wearing a GPS monitor.
"The man is 74, 75," Randazzo's attorney Richard Blake said. "He's not going anywhere."
Matthew Meyer, principal assistant attorney with the attorney general's office, disagreed.
"Our concern is risk of flight," Meyer said. "Mr. Randazzo... faces charges that if convicted and sentenced, could send him to prison for decades, the rest of his natural life."
He was supposed to be back in court in April.
If the autopsy confirms that it was suicide, he would be the second defendant accused in the scandal who died by suicide. Neil Clark, a lobbyist accused of bribery, died after pleading not guilty in 2021.
In February, Gov. Mike DeWine defended his top advisor after a criminal indictment alleged she knew about millions going to a man about to be appointed to power by the governor. She helped vet Randazzo after her family had already received a $10,000 loan from him. The governor's team insists she didn't know the millions was a bribe payment.
RELATED: Gov. DeWine defends top advisor after indictment questions how much she knew about H.B. 6 scandal
Gov. DeWine's office said it did not have an immediate comment on Randazzo's death. On Wednesday, DeWine is giving the State of the State address, which is likely to be overshadowed by the suspected suicide.
Back in December, I asked DeWine in a one-on-one interview if he regretted appointing Randazzo to the PUCO.
"Oh, look, if I knew what I know now, if I knew that — I certainly would not have appointed Sam Randazzo to that position," the governor responded.
Fast Facts
In March 2023, a jury found that Householder and former GOP leader Matt Borges, beyond a reasonable doubt, participated in the racketeering scheme that left four men guilty and another, Clark, dead by suicide.
In late June that year, federal judge Timothy Black sentenced Householder to 20 years in prison. Borges got five years. The two surviving defendants — Jeff Longstreth and Juan Cespedes — took plea agreements early on, helping the FBI, and are still awaiting their sentencing. The feds are asking for zero to six months for them.
Who was Sam Randazzo?
Randazzo was the PUCO chairman from April 2019 until November 2020, when he resigned. He allegedly received more than $4.3 million from “an energy company and its affiliates to provide favorable actions for the company through PUCO proceedings,” the DOJ states.
Randazzo was also general counsel of an association of large industrial energy users in Ohio group for years up until his appointment to PUCO and served as the industry group’s executive director, controlling the group’s bank accounts.
RELATED: Former PUCO chair pleads not guilty for his alleged part in FirstEnergy scandal
One example of Randazzo’s alleged crimes is his inclusion of language in a PUCO Opinion and Order that would address an issue for the energy company expected to impact them in 2024 after the company texted that the issue would be “handled” by him.
“Stock is gonna get hit with Ohio 2024. Need Sam to get rid of the ‘Ohio 2024 hole,’” an energy executive text message read, according to the DOJ news release. Another executive messaged, in part: “I spoke with Sam today. Told me 2024 issue will be handled next Thursday.”
The next Thursday, the PUCO decision included language alleviating the 2024 issue.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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