COLUMBUS, Ohio — The House Bill 6 scandal revealed the role dark money played in the passing of the $1 billion taxpayer-funded bailout of two nuclear power plants in Ohio, but the question is what can be done to prevent a similar situation from happening again in the future.

"Acceptable dark money would be money that's not a bribe,” said former U.S. Attorney David DeVillers, who is responsible for overseeing the case. “I suppose that would be acceptable dark money.”

DeVillers became a household name after announcing the arrests of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others last summer along with the investigation surrounding Householder's rise to power and the effort behind the passing of House Bill 6.

Prosecutors have said Householder and his associates were involved in a $61 million racketeering plot. FirstEnergy fessed up to paying nearly $57 million to the dark money group 'Generation Now' run by Householder's advisor, Jeff Longstreth.

DeVillers is not the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio anymore, but he still recognizes the issues surrounding dark money, or money a 501c4 may spend on political ads and campaigns meant to influence voters without disclosing where it actually came from.

"As far as how we find out, how we would investigate something that is a crime, that's the toughest part with the c4 right," DeViller said.

DeVillers said often it comes down to whistleblowers, news reports or good old-fashioned investigating.

"We talk to individuals that have committed perhaps certain crimes or are suspected of certain crimes and they want to join 'Team America' if you will and like a traditional organized crime or you move your way up to getting the information that you need," said DeVillers.

FirstEnergy recently agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement. The deal made the company admit to committing honest services fraud as part of the House Bill 6 scheme and pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. If FirstEnergy does not comply to the terms of the settlement, the case will reopen.

"They can still keep going as an organization,” DeVillers said. “It's not that the individuals, the CEOs or anybody else in that corporation, if it is found that they've committed crimes they'll still be charged. They'll still be indicted if that's found. I'm not making a comment whether it will or not.”

Catherine Turcer is the executive director of the political watchdog group Common Cause Ohio, which has been looking into dark money for years. Turcer said regardless of what investigators find, there needs to be greater transparency at the Statehouse.

"Many of us just want to know who the heck is trying to influence us when we're just sitting on our couch," said Turcer.

There have been bills introduced by both Democrats and Republicans to shine a light on dark money, but they have yet to gain any traction.

"I am hopeful in many ways but I also think we should be realistic and understand that it will take me effort and a lot of people paying attention for things to actually change at the Statehouse,” Turcer said.

As for DeVillers, more than a year after his announcement, he said he wishes he was still on the House Bill 6 case, but has full confidence those in charge now will get justice.

"I'm certain that the Vipal Patel, the acting U.S. Attorney, and the AUSAs are fantastic and the FBI,” DeVillars said. “They're going to follow this to the end. They're going to follow it to wherever and whoever it leads to.”