A former Warren assistant prosecutor and a Niles car dealer each pleaded “not guilty” Tuesday to charges in a federal indictment accusing them of taking part in a bribery scheme to reduce criminal charges in exchange for a free auto repair.

Nicholas Graham, 52, a former assistant prosecutor for the City of Warren, and Brian Votino, 52, the owner of Main Street Enterprises, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion.

The Hobbs Act is a federal law that prohibits robbery, extortion, and conspiracy to commit acts that affect interstate or foreign commerce.

According to the indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, Votino had two criminal cases against him that were pending in Warren Municipal Court. One case consisted of a fifth-degree felony charge for drug possession. The other case included a first-degree misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence.

On January 9, 2020, Votino appeared in Warren Municipal Court to resolve his two criminal cases pending in that court with Graham appearing as the prosecutor on behalf of the City.

Investigators say Graham acted on Votino's behalf to reduce a fifth-degree felony drug possession charge to a first-degree misdemeanor drug possession charge. For that charge, Graham asked the court for a 180-day suspended sentence with two years of probation.

The indictment says Graham also took official action to reduce Votino's first-degree misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence to a third-degree misdemeanor charge for the reckless operation of a vehicle. For that charge, GRAHAM asked for a 27-day suspended sentence with two years of probation and a one-year suspension of Votino's license starting retroactively from the date of the offense.

At some point between November 2019 and March 2020, Votino repaired one of the bumpers on Graham's truck, according to the indictment.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

The indictment alleges that the two men used coded language and communicated through a third party to conceal their arrangement.

Warren City Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa fired Graham on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, sending a letter saying his "services were no longer required," ending his 21-year-long employment with the city. 

Graham had been on approved sick leave from Aug. 1 through Aug. 14 of that year but was placed on unpaid administrative in mid-August, following an incident at Graham's house. 

Cantalamessa told 21 News they have not received any other complaints about Graham while he was with the city and are not investigating his other cases. However, Cantalamessa added if anyone does have a complaint they should report it to the FBI.

Government prosecutors opted not to have the men placed in detention. The bond for each is set at $20,000.  

Graham was also required to surrender his passport.