Connecticut’s former deputy budget director has been found guilty of using his position overseeing the state’s school construction office to enrich himself and his family.
The Connecticut Mirror reports that a jury found Konstantinos Diamantis, 69, guilty of 21 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to federal investigators.
Diamantis will remain free on bond until his sentencing, which is set for Jan. 14.
The jury delivered its verdict after a nine-day trial. Federal prosecutors presented evidence that Diamantis used his influence at the state’s school building office to help companies win lucrative construction contracts on several projects in Tolland, Hartford and New Britain.
Diamantis, who testified in his own defense, admitted that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars from Acranom Masonry, and he acknowledged that his daughter, Anastasia, was hired by Construction Advocacy Professionals after consulting with him.
But Diamantis was adamant that he never used his public office to help the companies gain an upper hand on school construction projects.
Diamantis asserted on the witness stand that the tens of thousands of dollars that Acranom’s executives paid to him were for an introduction to another firm: D’Amato Construction. And the paychecks and bonuses that were paid to his daughter had nothing to do with his position overseeing the state’s school building program, he said.
That testimony was contradicted by witnesses. Sal Monarca and John Duffy, the president and vice president of Acranom Masonry, told the jury how they delivered envelopes of cash to Diamantis at his home, at a Dunkin’ Donuts and several times at the Capital Grille in Hartford.
Antonietta DiBenedetto Roy, the owner of Construction Advocacy Professionals, told jurors how she chose to pay Diamantis’ daughter to keep him happy.
Prosecutors also presented text messages in which Diamantis threatened to remove the contractors from the school projects if he didn’t receive the money they promised him.
