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Jacksonville utilities execs go to trial Thursday for conspiracy to steal millions

Jury selection begins Thursday in the federal trial of the former CEO and CFO of JEA. Their attorneys had their final chance to ask the judge questions Wednesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The final hearing before the long-awaited trial of former JEA executives took place Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Jacksonville. 

Jury selection begins Thursday morning in the federal trial where the former CEO and CFO of JEA are accused of conspiring to steal hundreds of millions of dollars over the sale of the public utility.

The trial is going to be different from most because there will be two juries in the same courtroom, one jury for each defendant. Even the day before jury selection, attorneys had questions about how it will work.

One of the defense attorneys said using two juries this way has never been tried before in a case of this context. At some points during the trial, one of the juries will have to leave the room.

Former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn and former CFO Ryan Wannemacher are facing charges of conspiracy and wire fraud. They’re accused of scheming to privatize JEA and make millions off an incentive program they were trying to create.

On Wednesday the court heard testimony from an FBI computer scientist and an attorney with the Office of General counsel working for JEA. They went over several memos about creating the incentive program and the attorney said she did not see any red flags with it at the time.

The government’s exhibit list for evidence for the trial is long and includes videos of past JEA board meetings dating back to 2017 as well as a number of emails, text messages and JEA presentations.

Zahn and Wannemacher each face up to 25 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts.

The trial is set to start Tuesday. First Coast News will bring you the latest on jury selection and the trial on the First Coast News app.

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