Kosta Diamantis

Kosta Diamantis, a former Connecticut lawmaker and state official, has been involved in significant legal controversies related to corruption. In October 2025, he was convicted by a jury on 21 counts of extortion and bribery, with evidence indicating that he demanded bribes in exchange for awarding multimillion-dollar school construction contracts while serving as the head of the Connecticut Office of School Construction Grants and Review (News 12). The conviction stemmed from a case where contractors testified about his corrupt practices, and he was awaiting sentencing at the time of the report. Following his conviction, Diamantis relinquished his law license. In addition to his conviction, Diamantis faced a second corruption trial in April 2026. During this trial, he rejected a plea deal at the last minute, opting to proceed to trial instead (News 12). The second case involved allegations of bribery and extortion linked to a Medicaid fraud investigation, where prosecutors accused him of pressuring the state to cancel an audit into Medicaid billing issues related to a Bristol eye doctor. The case also involved testimony from individuals such as former Democratic state Rep. Christopher Ziogas, who pleaded guilty to extortion, bank fraud, and lying to the FBI, with prosecutors claiming that Diamantis and Ziogas accepted $95,000 from Helen Zervas (News 12). As of May 2026, the trial was ongoing, with no final verdict reported. There are no reports indicating that Diamantis was acquitted or that charges against him were dismissed; instead, he has faced multiple serious charges, convictions, and ongoing legal proceedings related to corruption and misconduct (News 12).