CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Niles car dealer who pleaded guilty in a federal bribery conspiracy case is asking a U.S. District Court judge to impose a sentence at the low end of federal guidelines.

Brian Votino’s public defender filed a sentencing memorandum on Wednesday, ahead of his sentencing hearing scheduled for Oct. 23 before a federal judge.

Votino, 52, was charged in September 2024 alongside former Warren municipal prosecutor Nicholas Graham in a scheme where Graham agreed to help Votino with pending criminal cases in exchange for auto repair work.

Votino pleaded guilty on July 16 to one count of conspiracy. In exchange for his plea, the government intends to move to dismiss the remaining charges of Honest Services Wire Fraud and Hobbs Act Extortion.

The plea agreement included a de

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