KONSTANTINOS “KOSTA” DIAMANTIS, 70, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 84 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and false statement offenses related to his conduct as director of Connecticut’s Office of School Constructions Grants and Review (“OSCGR”), the state agency responsible for the grant administration of all Connecticut public school construction projects seeking state funding.
Diamantis failed to appear for his sentencing and is currently being sought by law enforcement.
According to court documents and the evidence introduced during his trial, Diamantis demanded and received bribes from contractors in connection with multi-million dollar school construction projects he supervised as director of OSCGR. In exchange for those bribes, and promises to pay bribes, Diamantis used his official position to assist Acranom Masonry, Inc. (“Acranom”) to obtain and maintain contracts to perform work on state-funded school construction projects. Diamantis helped Acranom resolve a dispute concerning Hartford’s Weaver High School renovation project around 2018; obtain an additional work on that same project; and, in approximately 2019, obtain the masonry contract for the emergency rebuilding of the Birch Grove Primary School in Tolland. In numerous electronic messages between Diamantis and Acranom principals John Duffy and Salvatore Monarca, the three discussed their plan to pay Diamantis in exchange for his official action on behalf of Acranom. Diamantis also demanded payment in exchange for his actions and threatened to remove Acranom from the Weaver and Birch Grove projects if he was not paid.
Diamantis also demanded and received bribes from Antoinetta Roy in her capacity as the owner of Construction Advocacy Professionals, LLC (“CAP”). In exchange for those bribes, Diamantis used his official position to assist CAP in obtaining contracts to provide construction administrator and related services on state school construction projects, including a 2019 contract on the Birch Grove project in Tolland, a 2019 contract to assist New Britain in obtaining state reimbursement for school construction projects, and a 2019 contract related to the renovation project at Hartford’s Bulkeley High School. Roy paid Diamantis via cash and check, and hired Diamantis’s daughter at an inflated salary.
To conceal this conduct, on three different occasions in 2023, Diamantis made multiple false statements to federal agents investigating the matter.
Diamantis was arrested on May 16, 2024. On October 22, 2025, a federal jury in Bridgeport found him guilty of two counts of extortion, two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of bribery, two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, and 13 counts of making false statements.
“As the jury unanimously found, Kosta Diamantis abused his office to extort contractors and demand bribes, and then repeatedly lied to federal investigators to cover up his corrupt behavior,” said David E. Novick, First Assistant U.S. Attorney. “Rather than face the court at sentencing, this former criminal attorney and influential state official chose to mock the judicial system by becoming a fugitive. I thank the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation agents who diligently investigated this matter. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue working until Diamantis is returned and justice is fully served.”
“Public officials hold a privileged position of public trust,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien. “When an official abuses that trust for personal gain and enrichment, it harms taxpayers, undermines confidence in government, and diverts attention and resources from the communities those programs are meant to serve. A conviction for egregious public corruption offenses carries significant consequences. Failing to appear for sentencing, and attempting to flee from justice, does not change the jury’s verdict or our commitment to ensure accountability. We will aggressively pursue all options to return Mr. Diamantis to the United States to be held accountable for his offenses. FBI New Haven will continue to work with our federal and local law enforcement partners to pursue justice and help restore the public trust whenever public officials participate in corrupt acts.”
“Today’s sentencing of Konstantinos Diamantis demonstrates IRS-CI’s commitment to ensuring that all those who abuse their positions of power to enrich themselves at the cost of the American public are brought to justice,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “In one final self-serving act, Diamantis chose to flee the country in an effort to evade the sentence that the court ordered today. IRS-CI will continue working with our federal and global law enforcement partners to track down this international fugitive and ensure that he is returned to the United States where he will face justice.”
Judge Underhill will determine restitution after additional court proceedings.
Duffy, Monarca, and Roy pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.
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