Connecticut
Former Connecticut state rep pleads guilty in Medicaid bribery scheme
BRISTOL, Conn. (WFSB) – A former Connecticut state representative pleaded guilty Wednesday to paying bribes to help his fiancée avoid a state audit of her eye care practice.
Christopher Ziogas, 74, of Bristol, admitted in federal court to conspiracy, bank fraud and lying to federal agents. The former lawmaker represented Connecticut’s 79th Assembly District.
Between January and June 2020, Ziogas worked with Konstantinos Diamantis, a top official in the state’s Office of Policy and Management, court documents show. Diamantis took corrupt payments from Ziogas’s fiancée, Helen Zervas, in exchange for killing a state audit of her Medicaid billing.
Diamantis was found guilty in October on 21 federal corruption charges in a separate case involving school construction projects. He’s facing up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced Jan. 14.
Zervas owns Family Eye Care in Bristol and knew she had been fraudulently overbilling Medicaid for medical services she didn’t provide or that weren’t needed, prosecutors said.
In January 2020, the state told Zervas it was going to audit her Medicaid billing. Zervas asked Ziogas for help, and he reached out to Diamantis.
On March 4, 2020, Ziogas paid Diamantis a $20,000 bribe. That same day, Zervas’s lawyer sent state officials a settlement offer. The next day, Zervas cut Ziogas a $25,000 check from her business to pay him back.
On March 12, 2020, Ziogas made another $10,000 bribe payment to Diamantis and got reimbursed by Zervas. After Diamantis pressured other state officials, they cancelled the audit and accepted Zervas’s settlement offer on May 1, 2020, court documents say.
On May 12, 2020, Ziogas and Diamantis delivered a settlement check from Family Eye Care for nearly $600,000 to the state. Three days later, Ziogas made a final bribe payment of $65,000 to Diamantis.
Ziogas also committed bank fraud by writing a $5,500 check in November 2019 from a client trust account he managed, made out to Diamantis. He lied to federal agents during their investigation.
Ziogas could face up to 55 years in prison. He was released on $500,000 bond and will be sentenced Feb. 18 in Bridgeport federal court.
Zervas already pleaded guilty to related charges and is waiting to be sentenced. Diamantis is scheduled for trial Jan. 30 in Bridgeport on the Medicaid case.
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Connecticut
Where to watch Connecticut Sun vs Atlanta Dream on June 2: TV channel, start time and streaming
The WNBA has returned with a brand new collective bargaining agreement and a league full of loaded rosters as the 2026 season tips off.
A rookie class headlined by Dallas Wings top pick Azzi Fudd, Minnesota’s Olivia Miles and Washington’s Lauren Betts is ready to make a mark in the pros while the defending champion Las Vegas Aces look to keep their dynasty alive with a fourth title in five years.
As the the season gets going under a new media rights deal, it can be tough to figure out which channel each team is playing on every night. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in when the Atlanta Dream host the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.
What time is Connecticut Sun vs Atlanta Dream?
Tip off between the Atlanta Dream and Connecticut Sun is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, June 2.
How to watch Connecticut Sun vs Atlanta Dream on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:08 a.m.
Watch the WNBA all season on Fubo
WNBA scores and results
See scores, results for all of today’s games .
See WNBA scores, results from June 1
Odds for WNBA games today
The latest WNBA odds can be found below from the best sports betting apps . Some odds may include games scheduled on future dates.
Three Rocky Hill firefighters were honored Monday night for their part in a rescue on the Connecticut River in March.
Emergency crews responded to Ferry Park in Rocky Hill on March 23 in response to a report of a vehicle in the river.
When they arrived, they found a woman in a Jeep about 35 feet out from the riverbank.
Crews broke a window and pulled the woman to safety after about 10 minutes, according to fire officials.
The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Monday evening, Captain William Kelly, Captain Roberto Leone, and Lt. Travis Gerace-Hicks were awarded the fire department’s valor award for their rescue efforts.
ROCKY HILL — A man from South Carolina is facing charges after cutting down light poles along the highway in Rocky Hill, Connecticut State Police said.
Lamont Carlson Tucker, 62, of Myrtle Beach, is charged with first-degree criminal mischief and fourth-degree larceny, police said.
Police said troopers responded to reports of “an individual cutting light poles” around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Tucker was released on a $3,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in New Britain June 12, police said.
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