Tolland Seeking Restitution In Diamantis Case, Citing Losses Tied to Birch Grove Project

TOLLAND, CT — The Town of Tolland is seeking restitution for financial losses it says resulted from criminal conduct involving the new Birch Grove Primary School construction project in the federal case against former Connecticut official Konstantinos "Kosta" Diamantis.

Town Manager Brian Foley formally requested restitution in a Sept. 23 letter to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis. Foley wrote that the town is conducting a detailed review of its financial losses and plans to provide federal prosecutors with a preliminary dollar amount by Sept. 28.

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"We want our money back," Foley wrote in the letter.

The request comes as Diamantis awaits sentencing after a federal jury found him guilty in 2025 of 21 counts involving bribery, extortion, conspiracy and making false statements to federal investigators.

The federal prosecution included allegations involving the Birch Grove Primary School project in Tolland. A new school was needed because the original fell victim to the crumbling foundation crisis. Prosecutors alleged Diamantis used his position overseeing Connecticut's school construction program to benefit contractors.

Diamantis served as director of Connecticut's Office of School Construction Grants and Review, the state agency responsible for administering state funding for public school construction. He later served as deputy secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and was a Democratic state representative.

Foley said Tolland relied on the state-administered school construction process and expected decisions involving the taxpayer-funded project to be made in the public interest and "without corruption, bribery, self-dealing or improper influence."

The town has not yet determined the amount it intends to seek.

Its review includes contracts, invoices, payments, change orders, project costs, procurement decisions and other financial and project records, Foley said.

"The Town is not identifying a final restitution amount at this time," Foley wrote. "We expect to complete our preliminary financial review and provide the United States Attorney's Office with a specific dollar amount by Monday, September 28, 2026."

Foley said the letter "formally preserves" Tolland's claim for restitution and that the town reserves the right to change or supplement its claim as additional information becomes available.

Foley told Patch Wednesday that the town is asking federal prosecutors to include its restitution claim in their presentation to the court and to seek compensation for losses that are "legally recoverable and directly attributable to the criminal conduct."

Tolland also is seeking an opportunity to submit a final or supplemental calculation of its losses, notification of sentencing and restitution deadlines and proceedings, and the opportunity to be heard regarding restitution and the impact on the town and its taxpayers.

Foley said the town is prepared to provide federal prosecutors with contracts, invoices, payment records, change orders, correspondence, procurement records, project documents and financial analyses.

"Given the nature of this matter and the significant public funds involved in the Birch Grove Primary School project, the Town believes it is important that any financial harm ultimately determined to have resulted from the criminal conduct be borne by those legally responsible for that conduct rather than by the taxpayers of Tolland," Foley wrote.

The town's request cites the federal Crime Victims' Rights Act and applicable federal restitution laws.

Foley asked the U.S. Attorney's Office to confirm that Tolland's claim has been recorded and that the town will be allowed to supplement its submission after completing its financial review.