Alleged Cunningham co-conspirator has checkered past

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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/01/08/news/top_stories/12_00_201_7_06.txt

Alleged Cunningham co-conspirator has checkered past

By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer

A look at one of the alleged, unindicted co-conspirators in the Randy "Duke" Cunningham scandal shows a man with a checkered past, replete with a conviction for bribery and another for phony visas ---- a man whose sentences did not include a single day behind bars.

Sources close to the investigation have confirmed that New York businessman Thomas Kontogiannis is being investigated as one of four men from whom Cunningham received bribes. Court documents do not name the men, but refer to them as "co-conspirators."

Cunningham, the former congressman for most of North County, pleaded guilty Nov. 28 to taking more than $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering tens of millions of dollars in government contracts to two defense contractors.

From a distance and to colleagues, the Long Island resident seemed an old friend, a successful businessman, a man who enjoyed the good life on the water.

But a closer look shows that the Greek-born real estate developer eluded jail for a number of crimes, including his participation in a massive bribery scheme with a New York school official in exchange for contracts.
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