Former Connecticut deputy budget director and Democratic state representative Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis reportedly fled the United States for Greece before appearing in federal court for sentencing on corruption convictions.
Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, former deputy budget director under Gov. Ned Lamont, former director of the state’s school-construction grant office, and a former Democrat state representative, skipped Thursday’s federal sentencing in Bridgeport after slipping out of the country on a route prosecutors described as Florida to the Bahamas by boat, then a flight to London, then Greece, CT Insider reported.
Diamantis faced more than a decade in prison. Federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill for 10 to 12 years after a jury convicted him last October on 21 counts of extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and lying to the FBI. The new sentencing date is September 30, with or without him in the room.
His own lawyer told the court he is not coming back.
The escape the court was warned about.
Diamantis had been free on a $500,000 bond. Prosecutors had already flagged the obvious flight risk: he obtained Greek citizenship and a Greek passport while the case was pending, and he had repeatedly asked the court for permission to travel to Greece, WFSB reported.
The judge still left him out. Lamont later said he was “shocked” the man was not wearing an ankle bracelet. Too late.
Hellbound and Down 