Topline: Connecticut’s former deputy budget director fled to Greece before his corruption sentencing, prompting a planned arrest warrant and a halt to direct deposits of his pension.
Published: September 22, 2026 4:04 pm ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis
BRIDGEPORT, CT — Connecticut’s former deputy budget director, Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, fled to Greece instead of appearing for sentencing on 21 corruption counts stemming from payments he extracted from contractors seeking state construction work.
His attorney and federal prosecutors disclosed his departure in court Thursday, according to WTNH’s report on the missed sentencing. The station’s September 20 Capitol Report also covered his flight. Diamantis, 70, was convicted last year of offenses including bribery, extortion and lying to federal investigators.
A Call From Greece
Defense attorney Norm Pattis told the court that Diamantis called Wednesday evening, said he was in Greece and announced he would not attend sentencing. A prosecutor described a route that began with a drive from Connecticut to Florida, continued by boat to the Bahamas and then included a flight to London.
Senior U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill said the travel violated Diamantis’ release conditions and announced his intention to issue a bench warrant. WTNH reported that Greece has an extradition treaty with the United States; it did not report a confirmed return arrangement.
Diamantis holds both Greek and American citizenship. His citizenship and passport had come up at the end of his trial, when he told Underhill that his Greek passport was in Greece for the transfer of property inherited from his father. He was released on conditions requiring him to attend sentencing and a separate trial later this year.
Pattis said he could not endorse his client’s decision as an attorney but expressed personal understanding of his choice to go to Greece rather than face incarceration.
Contractors Described Cash Payments
Diamantis oversaw state school construction funding. Prosecutors used witness testimony and text messages to show that he demanded payments from contractors seeking work on projects under his control.
One witness, who had pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe him, testified about delivering thousands of dollars to Diamantis at his home, a coffee shop and a Hartford steakhouse bathroom. The witness’s masonry company received lucrative state contracts.
Another contractor testified that she felt pressured to pay Diamantis and employ his daughter. Her account of fearing retaliation helped support the prosecution’s extortion case.
Testifying in his own defense, Diamantis characterized the payments as compensation for legal services and, from the masonry company, an introduction to influential construction executives. Prosecutors questioned why the money was absent from his tax returns and state ethics disclosures. Jury foreperson Nkong Tankeng later told WTNH that he did not find Diamantis credible.
Pension Payments and Political Accountability
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said he stopped direct deposit of Diamantis’ monthly pension after confirming the missed court appearance and departure. His statement described a payment cutoff, not a completed legal forfeiture of pension benefits.
Gov. Ned Lamont said federal authorities were responsible for tracking Diamantis and urged them to bring him to account. Republican gubernatorial nominee and state Sen. Ryan Fazio criticized Lamont for promoting Diamantis and argued that state leaders should answer for corruption occurring under their administration.
Former Gov. Dannel Malloy appointed Diamantis to oversee school construction funding. Lamont retained him in that role and added the deputy budget director title. Diamantis previously served as a Democratic state representative from Bristol.
The defense initially subpoenaed Lamont to testify at trial, then withdrew the subpoena after prosecutors and Underhill questioned its relevance. Before the scheduled sentencing, Lamont declined to say whether Diamantis should receive prison time, saying he had been removed from his job once the matter became known.
A Separate Corruption Case Remains
Diamantis also awaits trial over allegations that he took bribes to interfere with a state investigation of an optometry office. Prosecutors allege the payments came from the office’s owner, the fiancée of former Democratic state Rep. Christopher Ziogas.
Ziogas has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Diamantis’ separate trial remained pending in WTNH’s report.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before Sentencing on 21 Corruption Counts
Connecticut’s former deputy budget director fled to Greece before his corruption sentencing, prompting a planned arrest warrant and a halt to direct deposits of his pension.
By Randy Shaw
Published: September 22, 2026 4:04 pm ET
Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis
BRIDGEPORT, CT — Connecticut’s former deputy budget director, Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, fled to Greece instead of appearing for sentencing on 21 corruption counts stemming from payments he extracted from contractors seeking state construction work.
His attorney and federal prosecutors disclosed his departure in court Thursday, according to WTNH’s report on the missed sentencing. The station’s September 20 Capitol Report also covered his flight. Diamantis, 70, was convicted last year of offenses including bribery, extortion and lying to federal investigators.
A Call From Greece
Defense attorney Norm Pattis told the court that Diamantis called Wednesday evening, said he was in Greece and announced he would not attend sentencing. A prosecutor described a route that began with a drive from Connecticut to Florida, continued by boat to the Bahamas and then included a flight to London.
Senior U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill said the travel violated Diamantis’ release conditions and announced his intention to issue a bench warrant. WTNH reported that Greece has an extradition treaty with the United States; it did not report a confirmed return arrangement.
Diamantis holds both Greek and American citizenship. His citizenship and passport had come up at the end of his trial, when he told Underhill that his Greek passport was in Greece for the transfer of property inherited from his father. He was released on conditions requiring him to attend sentencing and a separate trial later this year.
Pattis said he could not endorse his client’s decision as an attorney but expressed personal understanding of his choice to go to Greece rather than face incarceration.
Contractors Described Cash Payments
Diamantis oversaw state school construction funding. Prosecutors used witness testimony and text messages to show that he demanded payments from contractors seeking work on projects under his control.
One witness, who had pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe him, testified about delivering thousands of dollars to Diamantis at his home, a coffee shop and a Hartford steakhouse bathroom. The witness’s masonry company received lucrative state contracts.
Another contractor testified that she felt pressured to pay Diamantis and employ his daughter. Her account of fearing retaliation helped support the prosecution’s extortion case.
Testifying in his own defense, Diamantis characterized the payments as compensation for legal services and, from the masonry company, an introduction to influential construction executives. Prosecutors questioned why the money was absent from his tax returns and state ethics disclosures. Jury foreperson Nkong Tankeng later told WTNH that he did not find Diamantis credible.
Pension Payments and Political Accountability
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said he stopped direct deposit of Diamantis’ monthly pension after confirming the missed court appearance and departure. His statement described a payment cutoff, not a completed legal forfeiture of pension benefits.
Gov. Ned Lamont said federal authorities were responsible for tracking Diamantis and urged them to bring him to account. Republican gubernatorial nominee and state Sen. Ryan Fazio criticized Lamont for promoting Diamantis and argued that state leaders should answer for corruption occurring under their administration.
Former Gov. Dannel Malloy appointed Diamantis to oversee school construction funding. Lamont retained him in that role and added the deputy budget director title. Diamantis previously served as a Democratic state representative from Bristol.
The defense initially subpoenaed Lamont to testify at trial, then withdrew the subpoena after prosecutors and Underhill questioned its relevance. Before the scheduled sentencing, Lamont declined to say whether Diamantis should receive prison time, saying he had been removed from his job once the matter became known.
A Separate Corruption Case Remains
Diamantis also awaits trial over allegations that he took bribes to interfere with a state investigation of an optometry office. Prosecutors allege the payments came from the office’s owner, the fiancée of former Democratic state Rep. Christopher Ziogas.
Ziogas has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Diamantis’ separate trial remained pending in WTNH’s report.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before Sentencing on 21 Corruption Counts
Connecticut’s former deputy budget director fled to Greece before his corruption sentencing, prompting a planned arrest warrant and a halt to direct deposits of his pension.
By Randy Shaw
Published: September 22, 2026 4:04 pm ET
Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis
BRIDGEPORT, CT — Connecticut’s former deputy budget director, Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, fled to Greece instead of appearing for sentencing on 21 corruption counts stemming from payments he extracted from contractors seeking state construction work.
His attorney and federal prosecutors disclosed his departure in court Thursday, according to WTNH’s report on the missed sentencing. The station’s September 20 Capitol Report also covered his flight. Diamantis, 70, was convicted last year of offenses including bribery, extortion and lying to federal investigators.
A Call From Greece
Defense attorney Norm Pattis told the court that Diamantis called Wednesday evening, said he was in Greece and announced he would not attend sentencing. A prosecutor described a route that began with a drive from Connecticut to Florida, continued by boat to the Bahamas and then included a flight to London.
Senior U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill said the travel violated Diamantis’ release conditions and announced his intention to issue a bench warrant. WTNH reported that Greece has an extradition treaty with the United States; it did not report a confirmed return arrangement.
Diamantis holds both Greek and American citizenship. His citizenship and passport had come up at the end of his trial, when he told Underhill that his Greek passport was in Greece for the transfer of property inherited from his father. He was released on conditions requiring him to attend sentencing and a separate trial later this year.
Pattis said he could not endorse his client’s decision as an attorney but expressed personal understanding of his choice to go to Greece rather than face incarceration.
Contractors Described Cash Payments
Diamantis oversaw state school construction funding. Prosecutors used witness testimony and text messages to show that he demanded payments from contractors seeking work on projects under his control.
One witness, who had pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe him, testified about delivering thousands of dollars to Diamantis at his home, a coffee shop and a Hartford steakhouse bathroom. The witness’s masonry company received lucrative state contracts.
Another contractor testified that she felt pressured to pay Diamantis and employ his daughter. Her account of fearing retaliation helped support the prosecution’s extortion case.
Testifying in his own defense, Diamantis characterized the payments as compensation for legal services and, from the masonry company, an introduction to influential construction executives. Prosecutors questioned why the money was absent from his tax returns and state ethics disclosures. Jury foreperson Nkong Tankeng later told WTNH that he did not find Diamantis credible.
Pension Payments and Political Accountability
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said he stopped direct deposit of Diamantis’ monthly pension after confirming the missed court appearance and departure. His statement described a payment cutoff, not a completed legal forfeiture of pension benefits.
Gov. Ned Lamont said federal authorities were responsible for tracking Diamantis and urged them to bring him to account. Republican gubernatorial nominee and state Sen. Ryan Fazio criticized Lamont for promoting Diamantis and argued that state leaders should answer for corruption occurring under their administration.
Former Gov. Dannel Malloy appointed Diamantis to oversee school construction funding. Lamont retained him in that role and added the deputy budget director title. Diamantis previously served as a Democratic state representative from Bristol.
The defense initially subpoenaed Lamont to testify at trial, then withdrew the subpoena after prosecutors and Underhill questioned its relevance. Before the scheduled sentencing, Lamont declined to say whether Diamantis should receive prison time, saying he had been removed from his job once the matter became known.
A Separate Corruption Case Remains
Diamantis also awaits trial over allegations that he took bribes to interfere with a state investigation of an optometry office. Prosecutors allege the payments came from the office’s owner, the fiancée of former Democratic state Rep. Christopher Ziogas.
Ziogas has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Diamantis’ separate trial remained pending in WTNH’s report.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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