Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption, tell me about this news in (https://www.wral.com/news/ap/3f3f0-ex-connecticut-official-flees-to-greece-before-sentencing-for-corruption/)

A former senior Connecticut state budget official, Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, fled the United States and is now a fugitive in Greece just before he was scheduled to be sentenced for federal corruption charges.

Key details from the report:

• The Fugitive and the Escape: Diamantis, 70, served as the state’s deputy budget director and led the Office of School Construction Grants and Review. Federal authorities determined that Diamantis, who was restricted from flying out of the U.S., took a boat from Florida to the Bahamas, boarded a flight from Nassau to London, and ultimately traveled to Greece, where he holds citizenship.

• The Charges and Conviction: Diamantis was convicted on 21 counts involving bribery, extortion, and related federal offenses. Prosecutors proved he used his position from 2018 to 2021 to demand and take thousands of dollars in kickbacks and bribes from contractors in exchange for steering school building projects to them, threatening to cancel contracts if contractors did not pay.

• The Sentencing: Facing a recommended sentence of roughly 10 to more than 12 years in federal prison, he failed to appear in federal court in Bridgeport. The judge announced that the sentencing would move forward on September 30, whether Diamantis is present or not.

• His Response: Before absconding, Diamantis sent a lengthy 10-page email to his defense attorney denying any wrongdoing, claiming the prosecution was politically motivated, and accusing Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and the justice system of targeting him.