Konstantinos "Kosta" Diamantis, a former state official convicted of accepting bribes from contractors, was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison.
But the government needs to catch him before he will spend any time behind bars, as the 70-year-old Diamantis fled to Greece earlier this month.
U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill imposed the 84-month sentence during a proceeding in Bridgeport.
Diamantis, a Farmington resident, did not appear at his sentencing, and law enforcement is currently trying to find him and bring him back to the country to serve his sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Diamantis was convicted at trial in 2025 of multiple counts of extortion, bribery, conspiracy and false statements in connection with his role as director of Connecticut's Office of School Constructions Grants and Review.
Diamantis' background also includes stints as deputy state budget director and as a state representative.
According to federal prosecutors, contractors gave Diamantis bribes in order to secure lucrative multi-million dollar school construction projects in communities like Hartford and Tolland.
Prosecutors say Diamantis extorted contractors and demanded bribes, then made multiple false statements to FBI agents who were investigating.
David E. Novick, first assistant U.S. Attorney, said Diamantis "abused his office to extort contractors and demand bribes, and then repeatedly lied to federal investigators to cover up his corrupt behavior."
"Rather than face the court at sentencing, this former criminal attorney and influential state official chose to mock the judicial system by becoming a fugitive," Novick said. "Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue working until Diamantis is returned and justice is fully served."
FBI Special Agent in Charge P.J. O'Brien said it will aggressively pursue all options to return Diamantis to the U.S. "to be held accountable for his offenses."
Diamantis' defense attorney, Norman Pattis, who had argued for a sentence of home detention, monitoring and community service, could not be reached for comment following Wednesday's proceeding.
Read more:
Ex-CT Budget Official Flees Country Before Sentencing In Corruption Case
Former Connecticut Budget Official Convicted Of Taking Bribes From School Construction Contractors
Former CT Official Arrested, Facing Federal Charges: Feds
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