How sports betting, nuclear bailouts and undercover FBI agents collided in Ohio’s historic public corruption scandal

Larry Householder is on trial next week on charges of racketeering and corruption. FirstEnergy Corp. admitted it paid off Householders. Neil Clark, a powerful GOP lobbyist, was the lobbyist at the table on Jan. 10, 2019. He was joined by two agents operating undercover as real estate developers from Nashville using the names “Brian Bennett” and ‘Rob Miller’ and former Cincinnati Bengals free safety turned real-estate developer Chinedum Ndukwe. Ndukwe was already on his way to closing a successful corruption investigation.

Householder is on trial for allegedly accepting a bribe from undercover FBI agents. The FBI says Householder's nonprofit controlled by FirstEnergy took money from the company. Householders also worked with Rep. Dave Greenspan on a bill to legalize sports betting in Ohio. Jeff Longstreth, one of the conspirators, pleaded guilty and has been subpoenaed to testify at the trial. Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB6 on July 23, 2019. Jeff asked Greensan to delete text messages from Householder about HB 6. Greensans has admitted to providing information to the FBI about the incident.

Clark met Bennett and Miller at a Cincinnati Reds game in June 2019. The next month, he went to Nashville to meet the undercovers. They offered trips on private jets, yachts, and open bars with pretty women to entice Householder. Clark talked them down from the more extravagant offers. He tried to broker a dinner with Householders at the Aubergine Private Dining Club in Columbus. Household came with a staffer and Edwards. According to Clark, the lawmakers rebuffed a request from undercover agents for a change to the sports betting bill.