YOUNGSTOWN A former Warren assistant prosecutor, federally charged in a bribery scheme, is scheduled to plead guilty in the case, according to a court notice filed on Monday.

Nicholas Graham, 52, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg on Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. to enter his plea.

The change of plea hearing follows a final pretrial conference where Graham was given until July 25 to consider a plea agreement offered by the prosecution.

Graham was indicted in September 2024 on charges of conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion. According to the indictment, Graham, while an assistant prosecutor, reduced criminal charges for Brian Votino, a local car dealer, in exchange for free car repairs. Votino, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy on July 16.

The federal indictment alleges that Graham took official action in January 2020 to reduce a felony drug possession charge and a first-degree misdemeanor DUI charge against Votino.

The indictment states Graham asked the court to issue Votino a suspended sentence and probation on the reduced charges. In return, Votino allegedly repaired a bumper on Graham’s truck sometime between November 2019 and March 2020.

Votino is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23.

The City of Warren fired Graham in September 2022 after 21 years of employment. His bond is set at $20,000, and he was required to surrender his passport.

 

Brian Votino
Brian Votino