A former Trumbull county commissioner is headed to prison for violating the terms of his probation.

James Tsagaris was sentenced to nine months in prison for leaving his house on numerous occassions when he was supposed to be serving 12 months home confinement after pleading guilty to honest services mail fraud.

The judge said Tsagaris exhibited a blatant disregard for the court for admitting to visiting a cigar shop and having lunch with friends during his house arrest.

Michael Boler, Tsagaris' attorney, said Tsagaris violated the terms of his probation multiple times.

"He was on house arrest and he was allowed to leave, basically to go to work, and he exceeded the bounds of that on several occassions, and the judge felt he didn't have any more breaks coming from her, " Boler said.

Prosecutors said Tsagaris accepted a loan of more than $36,000 from an area business man and then continued to support the individual's proposals to do business in the county.

The Justice Department has acknowledged that the case is related to similar accusations against former Mahoning County judge Maureen Cronin, although the nature of the connection is not clear.

Tsagaris will have ten days to turn himself in and begin serving his time.