Kosta Diamantis sentencing delayed until after second trial of former CT official
A federal judge has agreed to postpone the sentencing
of Kostantinos
"Kosta" Diamantis until after a separate trial involving
corruption charges early next year.
United States District Court Judge Stefan Underhill
originally scheduled the Diamantis sentencing for Jan. 14, after the former
state school building director was found guilty last month of 21 felony charges
of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to federal investigators.
But on Monday, Diamantis's attorney, Norman Pattis, asked
for a delay until after the next trial scheduled for early February
in Underhill's courtroom.
"Mr. Diamantis, through counsel, respectfully
requests that this Court adjourn sentencing and suspend deadlines for such
things as the presentence interview and report until after the completion of
the trial on an unrelated matter in this court scheduled for January-February
2026," Pattis wrote.
Pattis said Diamantis wants to maintain his right to remain
silent on the upcoming trial, but a presentencing review would necessitate
sitting for an interview with federal officials and possibly prejudice his
constitutional right. Pattis said that in the event of a conviction in the
upcoming trial, the 69-year-old former state lawmaker, who led school
construction operations between 2015 and October of 2021 when he was fired by Gov. Ned Lamont in
October of 2021, may want the sentences consolidated.
On Tuesday, Underhill withdrew the sentencing date. On
the date of the conviction, Pattis
said to reporters that he feared his client could face a 10-to-12-year
prison sentence. "The sentencing schedule is suspended and will be
rescheduled at a later date," Underhill wrote in a brief ruling. The
decision did not address a request from Pattis last week in which he wanted
members of the jury brought back to the courthouse to see how many of the
12-member panel
had heard about the case prior to serving on the jury.
In the upcoming trial, Diamantis and Christopher Ziogas, a
former state representative from Bristol and longtime friend of Diamantis, face
corruption charges in a case involving Diamantis's role as a deputy secretary
of the governor's budget office. Diamantis is accused of using his
position to stop the Medicaid audit of Ziogas's fiancee, Helen Zervas, a
Bristol optometrist. Jury selection is scheduled for Jan. 30
in Underhill's courtroom, where the two-week long trial will start on Feb.
2.
7-building industrial project to remake former brownfield in Bristol
The developer of a former 15-acre brownfield site in Bristol
has filed its first application to redevelop the property.
Bristol-based Carrier Construction Inc. tentatively acquired
the 894 Middle St. parcel from the city in January for $625,000. The company’s
plan to build a multi-tenant industrial development was selected after the city
issued a request for proposals last November.
The sale will not be finalized until Carrier receives all
necessary development approvals.
According to city officials, the 894 Middle St. parcel was
originally two lots that it combined. One of the lots was the former location
of a metal reclamation business. The site has since been remediated, but it was
determined it couldn’t be used for residential development.
During its regular monthly meeting on Monday, the city’s
Conservation Commission and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency accepted an
application from Carrier seeking approval for a wetlands permit for the
project.
According to documents filed with the application, Carrier
plans to construct up to seven buildings totaling about 70,000 square feet. The
project would be built in two phases over a maximum of four years, creating a
private business park that could accommodate 26 to 46 tenants.
The project would also create parking areas and “other
associated improvements.”
The property is approximately 16.5 acres and has more than
an acre of wetlands. It is located at the corner of Middle Street, which is
also state Route 229, and Enterprise Drive.
Under the purchase agreement with Bristol, Carrier will
receive a 100% real property tax abatement for two years, a 50% abatement in
the third year, and then 10% abatements for years four through seven.
Justin Malley, Bristol’s economic development executive
director, said Carrier submitted the only RFP proposal for the property.
The proposed tenant mix may include specialty trade
contractors, business and professional services, manufacturers, distributors
and similar businesses allowed in the industrial park zone.
The company will also need to submit site plans for approval
before construction can begin.