Legal · CT
Fugitive Ex-Official's Medicaid Fraud Bribery Trial Pushed to 2027
A federal judge delayed the second corruption trial of Kosta Diamantis, Connecticut's former budget director, to June 2027 after he fled to Greece last month to avoid prison. Diamantis is accused of accepting $95,000 from an optometrist, Helen Zervas, and her fiancé, former state lawmaker Chris Ziogas, in exchange for pressuring state officials to cancel a Medicaid fraud audit of Zervas's practice. Both Zervas and Ziogas have pleaded guilty. Prosecutors said the trial will proceed in June regardless of whether Diamantis, who obtained Greek citizenship and has evaded extradition efforts, is apprehended and returned beforehand.
Why it mattersThe case underscores active federal enforcement against state officials and providers who obstruct Medicaid program integrity audits, a compliance risk state Medicaid agencies and managed care program integrity units should monitor closely.