Former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn leaves the federal courthouse in March 2022 after entering a not guilty plea on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud.
Published on February 1, 2024 at 4:16 pm
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With less than three weeks until former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn faces trial on criminal charges of conspiracy and wire fraud, conflicting stories are emerging about the scuttled sale of the city-owned utility in 2019.
During a pretrial hearing Wednesday, a lawyer who had been working for JEA and the city on matters related to the utility’s future told the court that Zahn told him that “the mayor” was supportive of the then-CEO receiving up to $40 million, in the event the utility were recapitalized or sold.
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At the time JEA was exploring a potential sale, Jacksonville’s mayor was Lenny Curry. Curry had appointed Zahn to JEA’s board, prior to Zahn becoming interim CEO and then permanent CEO.
When reached by News4JAX after the hearing, Curry gave a three-word response to Zahn’s statement as relayed in testimony: “That never happened.”
Read the rest of this story at News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
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