A federal grand jury charged the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Samuel Randazzo, 74, with crimes related to bribery and embezzlement, according to the Southern District of Ohio U.S. Attorney’s Office.
PUCO regulates utility service providers, including electric and natural gas companies, local and long-distance telephone companies, and water and wastewater companies.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine appointed Randazzo (pictured above) on February 4, 2019, for a term beginning April 11, 2019. Randazzo resigned as PUCO chairman on November 20, 2020.
The former chairman now 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.
While serving as chairman, Randazzo, according to the indictment, allegedly received more than $4.3 million from an energy company and its affiliates to provide favorable official actions for the company through PUCO proceedings.
Randazzo allegedly received the bribe from the energy company through his consulting business, Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio, Inc. (SFA), the U.S. Attorney’s Office notes.
It is also alleged that Randazzo used his consulting business to carry out an embezzlement scheme, funneling to himself at least $1 million for an association of large industrial energy users in Ohio.
From 2010 until his PUCO appointment, Randazzo was the general counsel of the industry group for multiple years and at times served as the industry group’s executive director, where he controlled the industry group’s bank accounts.
According to the indictment, Randazzo allegedly entered into settlements with companies on behalf of the industry group and kept portions of the settlement payments for himself.
Randazzo could face up to 20 years in prison if he’s convicted as charged.
Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said, “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. Through the indictment unsealed today, we seek to hold Randazzo accountable for his alleged illegal activities.”
FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers added that the federal agency “will remain vigilant in investigating allegations of corruption at all levels of government and hold those who violate the law accountable for their actions.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
