Ex-PUCO chairman Sam Randazzo accused in [Ohio] bribery scheme has died by suicide

This is the guy DeWine appointed to the position.

*******

Former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo, who was facing criminal charges over a bribery scandal, has died by suicide.

A spokesman for the Franklin County Coroner said Randazzo was found Tuesday in a warehouse that he owned.

Randazzo, 74, of Columbus, was recently accused of accepting $4.3 million from Akron-based FirstEnergy to help the company with a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants and regulation that would have cost the company money. He has pleaded not guilty to charges in state and federal court.

Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Randazzo to lead the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in January 2019. Before that, he served as an attorney in the utility sphere. He represented large industrial energy users.

Randazzo's condo was searched by the FBI in November 2020 and he resigned shortly after.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/state/2024/04/09/ex-puco-chairman-sam-randazzo-accused-in-bribery-scheme-has-died/73265991007/?utm_source=dispatch-newsalert-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_term=hero&utm_content=ncod-columbus-nletter01