Christopher Ziogas, a former Connecticut State Representative, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges connected to interference with a state audit of a Medicaid provider and to an unrelated bank fraud offense. The plea was entered on November 19, 2025, in New Haven.
Court records show that between January and June 2020, Ziogas participated in a scheme involving Konstantinos Diamantis, a senior official from the State’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM). Diamantis is alleged to have received illicit payments and benefits from Helen Zervas—Ziogas’s fiancée and owner of Family Eye Care in Bristol—in exchange for actions related to a state audit into overbilling Medicaid by Zervas’s clinic.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) had notified Zervas in January 2020 about an impending audit of her Medicaid billing practices. Aware that she had overbilled for services not provided or not medically necessary, Zervas sought help from Ziogas. In turn, Ziogas approached Diamantis for assistance. In return for bribe payments from Ziogas and Zervas, Diamantis is accused of taking steps as a public official—and pressuring other officials—to favorably resolve the DSS audit.
On March 4, 2020, Ziogas made a $20,000 payment to Diamantis. On the same day, Zervas’s attorney submitted a settlement offer regarding the audit to DSS. The following day, Zervas reimbursed Ziogas with a $25,000 check drawn from Family Eye Care. Another payment of $10,000 was made by Ziogas to Diamantis on March 12; again he was reimbursed by Zervas. Following interventions attributed directly or indirectly to Diamantis within OPM and DSS ranks, the DSS official canceled the planned audit and accepted Zervas’s settlement proposal on May 1.
Subsequently on May 12, Ziogas and Diamantis delivered a $599,810 settlement check from Family Eye Care to DSS. A final bribe payment of $65,000 followed on May 15.
During the investigation conducted by federal agents into these events, Ziogas made false statements.
In addition to these offenses related to extortion under color of official right—a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison—and making false statements (up to five years), Ziogas also admitted committing bank fraud (punishable by up to 30 years). Specifically in November 2019 while acting as trustee for “Trust-1,” he issued a $5,500 check from the trust account payable to Diamantis.
Ziogas is currently out on bond set at $500,000 while awaiting sentencing scheduled for February 18 before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.
Helen Zervas has already pleaded guilty on related charges; her sentencing is pending. Meanwhile Diamantis faces trial beginning January 30 in Bridgeport after being indicted; prosecutors emphasized that indictments are allegations only and do not constitute evidence or proof of guilt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division are conducting this ongoing investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and Paul A. Riley are prosecuting the case.
