A former senior budget official in Democratic Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration became a fugitive in Greece after leaving the United States ahead of his federal sentencing in a corruption case, according to his lawyer and federal prosecutors.
Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, 70, had been scheduled for sentencing Thursday in federal court in Bridgeport after a jury convicted him last year in a bribery and extortion case tied to multimillion-dollar school construction contracts.
Prosecutors said Diamantis traveled by boat from Florida to the Bahamas and then flew to London. Although he had surrendered his U.S. passport, prosecutors said he obtained a Greek passport. Diamantis holds both American and Greek citizenship.
Sentencing Delayed, But Not Stopped
U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill set a new sentencing date for Sept. 30 and said the proceeding would go forward whether or not Diamantis appears.
Federal prosecutors asked the judge to impose a sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison. Diamantis’ attorney, Norman Pattis, had argued in court filings for a sentence with no prison time and strict conditions of release.
Pattis told reporters after the hearing that he was surprised his client fled.
“I think that Mr. Diamantis was facing a tough day here today and would have gotten at least four or five years, perhaps 10 to 12,” Pattis said. “So as a lawyer, I cannot support his decision to take the law into his own hands. But as a fellow human being, I understand why he did what he did.”
Conviction Stemmed From School Construction Contracts
Diamantis, a former Democratic state representative, was convicted of extorting private contractors for thousands of dollars in bribes from 2018 to 2021. Prosecutors said the payments were made in exchange for his help keeping or obtaining work on school construction projects.
At the time, Diamantis served as director of Connecticut’s Office of School Construction Grants and Review. Prosecutors accused him of demanding payments and threatening to terminate contracts if he was not paid.
During trial, witnesses testified that they handed Diamantis envelopes of cash at locations including an upscale restaurant men’s room, a doughnut shop and his home. Some payments were referred to in messages as “birthday cards,” “pars” and “birdies,” according to the report.
Diamantis testified in his own defense. He acknowledged receiving the money but said it was legitimate consulting income.
Accusations Against Lamont
Before missing sentencing, Diamantis sent Pattis a 10-page email denying wrongdoing and accusing Lamont of weaponizing the justice system against him.
“The injustice that has occurred to me and my family by political weaponization is beyond rational belief,” Diamantis wrote, according to copies Pattis provided to media outlets.
Diamantis wrote that he had lost his home, car, job, ability to get a job, law license, honor, dignity and pride. He also said he hoped President Donald Trump and the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington would review his case.
Diamantis claimed Lamont used “the power of his office and his powerful friendship with President Biden to create an insular system of justice” to protect the governor’s own wrongdoing. The source report did not present evidence supporting Diamantis’ allegation.
Officials Move to Cut Pension Payments
Connecticut officials condemned Diamantis’ disappearance and moved to stop his state pension payments.
“Kosta Diamantis betrayed the public’s trust and needs to be held accountable for his actions,” Lamont said in a statement. “His repeated efforts to skirt justice are shameful. I hope he is apprehended and made to face the music as soon as possible.”
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, also a Democrat, said Diamantis’ disappearance was “a shameful insult to every person in Connecticut” and would not stop the state from protecting taxpayer dollars.
It remains unclear whether Diamantis can be returned to the United States. According to the report, Greek courts have upheld the claim that extradition of Greek nationals is forbidden.
Diamantis also faces another pending federal criminal case, in which he is accused of taking bribes to quash a state audit of an eye doctor accused of Medicaid fraud.
This article is based on reporting adapted from the Associated Press.
