Kosta Diamantis, awaiting trial, seeks OK to go to Greece

Konstantinos Diamantis, the former state deputy budget director who was indicted on federal corruption charges in May, has asked a federal judge to allow him to travel to Greece for a month-long family vacation.

But federal prosecutors are now contesting that request , arguing that Diamantis — who is facing 22 counts for extortion, bribery and lying to federal investigators — could abscond by claiming Greek citizenship during his trip with his four daughters, three grandchildren and other extended family.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Diamantis’ parents were reportedly Greek citizens and it pointed out that, under Greece’s laws, his parents’ status could give Diamantis the opportunity to claim citizenship himself.

If that were to happen, the federal prosecutors argued that Greece may not be required to extradite Diamantis to the United States for his pending trial in February.

“During his proposed month in Greece, Diamantis would have ample opportunity to claim Greek citizenship and seek to avoid or at least delay extradition back to the United States,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis wrote.

Diamantis’ defense attorney, Norm Pattis, argued in a written motion that his client was not a flight risk and emphasized that Diamantis had known for roughly two years that he was under federal investigation.

“Mr. Diamantis has known for years that the government was investigating him and has had ample opportunity to flee, if that was his intention,” Pattis wrote. “He is eager to defend the case on the merits.”

Records provided to federal prosecutors show Diamantis booked the flight to Greece with his family in February, months before he was indicted for allegedly extorting several construction contractors that worked on local school projects in Connecticut.

But the U.S. Attorney’s office pointed out that Diamantis’ travel plans were not brought up in court during his arraignment in May, when a federal judge set the conditions of his release on a $500,000 bond.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Farrish asked Diamantis at that time if he understood each condition that was being placed on him, but Diamantis never mentioned anything about the planned trip to Greece.

The federal prosecutors also argued that Diamantis has already ignored several of the terms of his release.

Court records show Diamantis failed to dispose of several firearms that he owned by the deadline set by the court. And Diamantis initially said that he could not locate his passport, which he was also ordered to turn over to probation officers.

That changed once Diamantis formally notified prosecutors that he wanted to travel to Greece.

At that point, the U.S. Attorney’s office pointed out that international travel would be impossible without the travel documents, but “within hours,” they said, Diamantis found the missing passport.

“Diamantis has failed to establish a track record that could give the court confidence in approving a month-long pre-trial international trip,” Francis wrote. “Diamantis has been under probation’s supervision for less than two months. In that short time, he has failed to demonstrate that he takes the court’s orders, or probation’s supervision, seriously.”

Pattis explained in his motion that Diamantis intended to lead the family trip and that without him, the entire family vacation would likely be ruined.

“It will be a homecoming of sorts for the extended group as the trip is focused on the village from which Mr. Diamantis’ ancestors were born and raised,” Pattis wrote. “Mr. Diamantis is expected to serve largely as a guide on the trip and the trip will likely be cancelled for all involved if he is unable to participate.”

But federal prosecutors argue that is hardly a valid reason for him to leave the country.

“While visiting relatives may be enjoyable and personally meaningful, that is not a compelling reason for an extended trip to a foreign country where Diamantis has family ties and the potential to significantly delay trial.”

In a sharply worded three-page response to the government’s brief asking the judge to deny Diamantis’s trip to Greece, Pattis reiterated that Diamantis could have run away anytime over the past three years. And to alleviate the prosecutors’ fears that he will abscond, Pattis said Diamantis would agree to a series of phone calls with probation officers while travelling.

“The Government contends it cannot monitor Mr. Diamantis’ whereabouts while he travels with his children, grandchildren and elderly relatives, as though this caravan were expected to be on the run from Interpol,” Pattis wrote.

“There may be no love lost between the defendant and those charged with prosecuting him,” he added. “But this descent into pettiness neither promotes respect for the law nor sheds a favorable light on the Justice Department.”

Related Stories:

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2. Behind Kosta Diamantis’ arrest: Money woes, unfettered power
3. Kosta Diamantis arrested, faces 22 federal counts; 3 others charged