A former assistant city prosecutor from Warren, Ohio, Nicholas Graham, is facing serious legal trouble after being charged with accepting bribes in exchange for reducing criminal charges. The federal indictment, issued by a grand jury, accuses Graham of engaging in conspiracy, wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion. Alongside him, Brian Votino, a Niles, Ohio resident, is also facing charges in the same case.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that Graham, 52, served as a prosecutor in the Warren Municipal Court while owning a convenience store called Buckeye Beverage in Niles, Ohio, from June 2019 to February 2024. Votino, 52, owned an auto repair shop and dealership, Main Street Enterprises, also located in Niles. Their paths crossed due to Votino’s involvement in two criminal cases—one for a misdemeanor DUI and another for felony drug possession—being tried in the court where Graham worked.
The indictment outlines a scheme in which Graham and Votino allegedly collaborated to reduce the severity of Votino’s charges in exchange for bribes. According to court documents, their communications began on October 1, 2019, through an unnamed intermediary, who arranged a meeting between the two men. Votino reportedly inspected a bumper on Graham’s truck, which served as a cover for their illegal dealings.
The Alleged Bribery Scheme
As detailed in the indictment, Graham used the intermediary to pass messages to Votino, including instructions to keep their arrangements secret from Votino’s defense attorney. Graham also suggested that Votino create a fake repair bill to make it appear as though he had been paid for legitimate services.
After these initial interactions, Graham continued to use his position as a prosecutor to assist Votino. In January 2020, before Votino’s court date, Graham began pushing for a reduction of Votino’s felony drug possession charge to a misdemeanor. During the hearing, he advocated for a lighter sentence, requesting a 180-day suspended sentence and two years of probation.
Additionally, Graham sought to reduce Votino’s DUI charge to a lesser reckless driving charge. He recommended a 27-day suspended sentence and a retroactively suspended license, which effectively limited the impact of Votino’s penalties.
Termination and Legal Consequences
Graham’s career as a prosecutor ended abruptly in September 2022 following a separate scandal involving an altercation at his son’s birthday party. His termination came after serving the Warren Municipal Court for 21 years. Now, he faces much graver allegations.
A warrant for Graham’s arrest was issued on September 20, 2024, and he was taken into custody on September 24. If found guilty on all charges, both Graham and Votino could face a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison each.
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DOJ Statement on the Charges
In a statement, the DOJ emphasized the severity of the allegations.
“The integrity of our justice system relies on those in positions of authority to act without corruption. The charges in this case reflect a serious breach of that trust,” the DOJ stated.
The department underscored that Graham’s actions as a prosecutor, if proven true, constitute a violation of the responsibilities and ethics expected of legal officials.