This article digs into the federal corruption case swirling around former Connecticut state legislator Christopher Ziogas. He’s admitted to extortion and bank fraud in a scheme linked to his fiancé’s optometry practice.
From handing over nearly $100,000 to a powerful budget official, to the fallout for state oversight and Medicaid integrity, this case echoes far outside the courtroom. People are talking about it in places like Hartford, New Britain, Bridgeport, and New London.
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Guilty Plea by Former Bristol Lawmaker
Ziogas, who represented the Bristol area, pleaded guilty in federal court to extortion and bank fraud. Prosecutors say he tried to derail a state audit into possibly fraudulent Medicaid billing at his fiancé’s practice, Family Eye Care.
His plea puts him right in the thick of a public corruption saga that’s drawing eyes all over Connecticut. Folks in Waterbury, Norwich, and Danbury have watched plenty of local corruption cases lately, and this one’s just adding fuel to the fire.
The Alleged Payoff: Nearly $100,000 in Cash
Federal documents say Ziogas admitted delivering almost $100,000 to former state budget official Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis. Prosecutors claim those payments had one purpose: to weaken or stop the state audit of Family Eye Care’s Medicaid billing.
Investigators call the money part of an extortion and influence scheme. They say a powerful insider got paid to use his sway and mess with the audit.
The Audit of Family Eye Care and Medicaid Billing Concerns
Family Eye Care, run by Ziogas’ fiancé Dr. Helen Zervas, sits at the center of all this. State officials flagged the practice for what they called suspicious Medicaid billing.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) keeps an eye on Medicaid in the state. They launched an audit after spotting red flags in Family Eye Care’s claims—something officials in New Haven and Stamford worry about too.
Allegations of Overbilling and Unnecessary Services
Prosecutors allege Zervas spent years overbilling Medicaid. They claim she billed for services that weren’t needed, and sometimes for procedures that never even happened.
When the audit notice landed in January 2020, Zervas allegedly turned to Ziogas for help. Prosecutors say that kicked off the chain of events leading to today’s federal charges.
Role of Former Budget Officer Konstantinos Diamantis
Diamantis, a former senior state budget officer and legislator, stands accused of using his influence to interfere with the DSS audit. People who follow state government in Hartford already know his name, especially after an earlier conviction in a different corruption case.
Prosecutors say Diamantis didn’t just offer advice—he allegedly pressured state auditors to go easy on Family Eye Care’s investigation.
Pressure on Auditors and a $600,000 Settlement
Federal filings claim Diamantis leaned on state officials to drop or soften the audit. That led to a negotiated settlement, not a harsher enforcement action.
Family Eye Care agreed to pay nearly $600,000 to the Department of Social Services. The way that deal came together is now getting a lot of federal attention, and it’s got people in Meriden and Middletown wondering just how much state influence can really be bought.
Diamantis’ Upcoming Trial and Wider Corruption Context
Ziogas’ guilty plea casts a long shadow over Diamantis, who’s set for trial in February on related federal corruption charges tied to the Family Eye Care audit. Prosecutors say Ziogas might show up as a key government witness in that case.
This all comes right after Diamantis’ October conviction on nearly two dozen counts of bribery and contract steering in a totally separate school construction scandal. That mess shook up school districts and city halls from Bridgeport to Waterbury.
Plea Deals Rejected and Potential Prison Time
Diamantis and Zervas have both turned down plea deals in the Family Eye Care case. They’re taking their chances at trial.
If Diamantis gets convicted again, he could be looking at more than a decade in federal prison—on top of his earlier convictions. Ziogas, meanwhile, has owned up to his actions, but he’s still staring down a possible 70 to 87 months behind bars under federal guidelines.
What Comes Next for Ziogas and the Case
Ziogas is still out on a $500,000 bond while he waits for sentencing. Right now, that’s scheduled for February 18.
At that hearing, a federal judge will look at how much Ziogas cooperated. They’ll also weigh the seriousness of the extortion and bank fraud and consider how all this has shaken public trust.
For people across Connecticut, from Hartford to New London, this whole mess has stirred up real worries about ethics in public office. Oversight of Medicaid funds and the basic trust in state institutions feels shaky.
With the February trial for Diamantis coming up, the courtroom is probably going to dig up even more about how money, influence, and political ties got tangled in this corruption scandal. Who knows what else will come out?
Here is the source article for this story: Ex-CT state rep. pleads guilty in extortion case. He could be witness in trial of second ex-official
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