Diamantis Digs His Own Grave with $22M School Bribery Scheme

In a stunning display of greed and corruption, 67-year-old Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, former director of Connecticut’s Office of School Constructions Grants and Review (OSCGR), has been arrested and charged with a 22-count indictment for his role in a $22 million school construction bribery scheme.

The indictment, unsealed yesterday, alleges that Diamantis demanded and received bribes from several contractors, including Salavatore Monarca, 53, of Durham, president and director of Acranom Masonry, Inc., and John F. Duffy, 63, of Westerly, Rhode Island, vice president of Acranom, in exchange for awarding them lucrative contracts for school construction projects.

According to the indictment, Diamantis used his official position to assist Acranom in obtaining and maintaining contracts for masonry work on several high-profile projects, including the renovation of Hartford’s Weaver High School and the emergency rebuild of the Birch Grove Primary School in Tolland. In exchange for the bribes, Diamantis helped Acranom resolve a dispute on the Weaver High School project, obtain the contract for masonry work on phase four of the same project, and secure the masonry contract for the Birch Grove project.

In addition to the charges against Diamantis, three related cases were unsealed today, including the guilty pleas of Monarca and Duffy, who each pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Diamantis. Antonieta Roy, 41, of Plainfield, owner of Construction Advocacy Professionals, LLC, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Diamantis in exchange for business as a construction administrator on school construction projects.

The indictment alleges that Diamantis demanded and received bribes from Acranom and Roy, and that he made multiple false statements to FBI agents investigating the matter. Diamantis appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $500,000 bond.

“Constructing and renovating schools is an important, and very expensive, endeavor for our state and municipalities, and corruption within a program that manages and funds them adds cost, seriously erodes trust in government, and raises questions about work quality and the potential harms to students and educators in the classroom,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.

The indictment is the result of a long-term investigation by the FBI, IRS, and other law enforcement agencies. The case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of corruption on our communities and the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions.

Diamantis is accused of taking bribes in exchange for awarding lucrative contracts to contractors, and the indictment alleges that he made multiple false statements to FBI agents investigating the matter. The case is a complex web of corruption and deceit, and it will be up to a jury to determine Diamantis’ guilt or innocence.

As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the people of Connecticut deserve better than a public official who prioritizes personal gain over the needs of their constituents.