Disbarred lawyer Constantine Kalogianis sentenced to prison for nine years
The Pasco County lawyer pleaded guilty to altering mortgage records.

Article Courtesy of The Tampa Bay Times

By Susan Taylor Martin

Published May 15, 2019

  

NEW PORT RICHEY — A Pasco County lawyer has been sentenced to nine years in state prison for altering mortgage foreclosure documents to benefit homeowners he represented.

Constantine Kalogianis will also have to pay restitution to lenders he defrauded although the amount is in dispute.

 

"We have agreed on $156,101; some of the victims are seeking up to another $120,000,'' said Bryan Sarabia, the assistant state attorney who prosecuted the case.

The long, odd history of Pasco County politicians behaving badly

A former congressional candidate and sometime developer, Kalogianis was arrested in 2016 on nine felony counts after being caught on courthouse surveillance cameras stamping something on papers in clients' foreclosure cases. Due to the changes he made, he was able to persuade judges that the lenders didn't have standing for summary judgment. As a result, he collected fees as the prevailing attorney that he otherwise would not have been entitled to.

At Thursday's sentencing before Judge Kimberly Campbell, Kalogianis' sister blamed his actions on pressure from his wife to make more money. But Kalogianis, in a prepared statement, "acknowledged his guilt and took complete responsibility,'' Sarabia said.

Kalogianis, who turns 56 this month, will be on probation for nine years after completing his prison term. He was disbarred two years ago.

Former congressional candidate, sometime developer and lawyer Constantine Kalogianis was sentenced to nine years in state prison for altering mortgage foreclosure documents to benefit homeowners he represented.



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