‘Kosta La Vista.’ Former state budget deputy flees to Greece before bribery sentencing
Federal prosecutors believe Kosta Diamantis used a Greek passport to evade American authorities and slip out of the country. He faces up to 12 years in prison for bribery and extortion charges related to school construction contracts.
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Kosta Diamantis is now an international fugitive.
In a scene straight out of a movie, Gov. Ned Lamont’s former budget deputy apparently slipped out of the country – on a boat to the Bahamas before landing in Greece – to avoid up to 12 years in prison.
Now, getting Diamantis back to the U.S. may prove difficult.
DARING GETAWAY
Diamantis was set to be sentenced on Thursday morning for 21 counts of bribery and extortion. Instead, his attorney told Judge Stefan Underhill that Diamantis called him the night before saying he fled to Greece and wasn’t coming back.
“As a lawyer, you know, 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,” said attorney Norm Pattis. “You’ve got two choices – spend the next five years of your senior citizenship or your golden years asking Bubba for permission to stand in line or go to Greece. Who wouldn’t go to Greece?”
So how did he do it?
Flying out of the U.S. would alert federal authorities. Instead, prosecutors believe Diamantis drove to Florida three weeks ago, caught a boat to Nassau, then flew to London – using a newly-obtained Greek passport. After his conviction, Diamantis claimed the passport was in Greece and was only meant to facilitate a property transfer for his family.
Prosecutors also revealed that Diamantis booked two international flights for May and September but never showed up for them. Despite concerns about being a flight risk, Diamantis was not required to wear a GPS monitoring device.
On Thursday, Underhill issued a bench warrant for Diamantis’ arrest. The sentencing will go forward on Sept. 30 – with or without Diamantis.
“Mr. Diamantis doesn’t get to decide if the government moves forward with sentencing,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis said.
Diamantis faces a second bribery trial in December. He rejected a plea deal in that case in April. For now, it remains scheduled.
CAN U.S. GET HIM BACK?
Getting Diamantis back could be tough.
“Greece takes a hard-line position on the extradition of its citizens,” Pattis told reporters. “The government’s going to have to persuade Greek authorities that actually covers Mr. Diamantis and his circumstances. I’m not sure they can do that.”
Francis acknowledged “an issue with Greek citizens being extradited” and said the State Department may go through the European Union instead. The logistics of such a negotiation remain unclear.
“The extradition process will play out,” said Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley, a former police detective. “I’m confident in Uncle Sam in bringing him back over here to the USA.”
SWIFT REACTION
Soon after the news broke, state comptroller Sean Scanlon stopped payments on Diamantis’ $75,000 pension.
“No one who has been convicted of defrauding the taxpayers and is now fleeing justice should continue receiving a pension,” said Scanlon.
A 2008 law lets the Connecticut attorney general ask a judge to revoke a state official’s pension after a job-related conviction.
“Kosta Diamantis abused the public trust and will be held accountable. His disappearance this morning is a shameful insult to every person in Connecticut and will not deter our efforts to fully protect the state’s interest and taxpayer dollars,” Attorney General William Tong said in a statement. “We are reviewing all legal options to fully enforce the law.”
POLITICAL FALLOUT
The Diamantis case has become an issue in the race for governor.
“It’s just another example of corruption run amok in Connecticut,” Fazio told NBC Connecticut on Thursday. “This is one of the worst cases.”
Lamont fired back.
“I didn’t hire the guy, and as soon as we found out about something, he was gone,” the governor said. “It’s shocking to me that thus guy with a that big a judgment is able to get away like that. You know, it’s a federal matter and I hope they hold him accountable and get him.”
In a 10-page email sent to Pattis on Wednesday, Diamantis claimed his prosecution “was orchestrated by senior officials of Ned Lamont's administration” over questions he raised about Covid-19 spending. Diamantis made the same argument in his application for a federal pardon.
MORE: Bribes or 'fees?' Kosta Diamantis says he didn’t trade money for school construction jobs
