Yet another stop in the tour of all-around muck that is the Duke Cunningham case.

In a filing today, prosecutors allege that John Michael, who's been indicted for laundering Cunningham's bribes and lying to investigators, hid incriminating documents by keeping them with what prosecutors call "a stash of personal entertainment materials and paraphernalia." You can read the filing here.

The prosecutors don't identify exactly what those items are, but note that "Michael has expressed extreme embarrassment" over them and that "their nature objectively supports his perspective" (read: he has good reason to be embarrassed). They say that they'll identify the materials at a court hearing if need be.

Prosecutors want to introduce evidence of Michael's embarrassing "stash," in order to prove that he knew the Cunningham documents were, in their own way, as embarrassing. That he kept documentation of Cunningham's sketchy mortgage details in a place where he also stored "materials he did not want to anyone else to learn about" proves, they write, that he knew he was up to no good.

Part of the indictment against Michael, the nephew to Greek man of mystery Thomas Kontogiannis -- prosecutors call Michael and Kontogiannis "professional money launderers" -- is that he obstructed justice by forging record of the Cunningham mortgages and hiding others.

Michael is scheduled to go on trial along with Brent Wilkes in October, but a later trial date is expected to be set.

So why was Thomas Kontogiannis, who's pled guilty to helping bribe Duke Cunningham, staying at a five-star Greek resort? Because the government told him to, prosecutors say. From The North County Times:

A federal judge allowed a New York man who has admitted bribing former North County U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham to remain free on bond, after an Assistant U.S. Attorney said at a hearing this morning that the man's recent trip to Greece was at the direction of federal agents.

U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns had called the hearing to learn whether the man, Thomas Kontogiannis, had traveled overseas without permission. Any such trip requires prior approval because Kontogiannis pleaded guilty earlier this year on a money laundering charge.

At today's hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge said the trip was made at the government's behest.

"My understanding is that everything Mr. Kontogiannis did was not just 'with permission,' but at the direction of agents and other representatives of the government," Forge said.

Stranger and stranger.

Within the hour, Thomas Kontogiannis is scheduled to go before U.S. District Judge Larry Burns in San Diego and explain why his recent Greek vacation doesn't violate the terms of his $1.5 million bond, under which he had to surrender his passport. But that's not the only new Tommy K-related morsel. On Friday, Burns ruled that attorneys for former ADCS chairman Brent Wilkes will get to review the sealed addenda to Kontogiannis' guilty plea. From the ruling:

1. The government shall disclose to defense counsel any sealed written addenda to the plea agreement of defendant Thomas Kontogiannis, case no. 07CR423-LAB, which addenda shall remain under seal. 2. The only persons to whom defense counsel may disclose, directly or indirectly, the contents or substance of any written addenda are John Michael, Brent Wilkes, and investigators or other agents assisting in the preparation of defendants’ defense.

What, we can't see? Shucks. Wilkes will stand trial next year for bribery and fraud related to the Randy "Duke" Cunningham corruption case. Kontogiannis has pleaded guilty to related charges and is cooperating with the government.

It appears that Thomas Kontogiannis fun in the Grecian sun is over. Kontogiannis, despite having surrendered his passport when he posted bail, was tracked down at a five-star resort in Greece. The judge wasn't happy about it. And now he wants an explanation, Justin reports at the Blotter:

In an order Thursday, Burns wrote he had "received information from reliable sources" that Kontogiannis "has traveled outside the United States" in violation of the terms of his release.

He ordered Kontogiannis to appear at a hearing next Monday to explain why his bond should not be revoked.

Thomas Kontogiannis, the Greek-born businessman and veteran cooperator who's pled guilty to helping bribe Duke Cunningham, has gotten kid glove treatment from prosecutors. But here's something that seems to have puzzled even the trial judge.

As we noted last week, The North County Times reported that they'd tracked down Tommy K at a five-star hotel in Greece. It seemed an odd place to find an admitted felon. Judge Larry Burns agrees. From The San Diego Union-Tribune:

[John Michael's lawyer Raymond Granger] said that Kontogiannis has been on vacation in Greece this summer. Since pleading guilty, Kontogiannis has been free on a bond, but surrendered his passport to federal authorities and was allowed to travel out of the country only if accompanied by federal agents, or with their permission.

Burns seemed intrigued by that revelation, and ordered prosecutors to find out if it was true. He said he might hold another hearing to “clarify the terms” of Kontogiannis' bail.

“On no occasion did I contemplate he would be vacationing in Greece pending sentencing,” Burns said.

So it seems that there might soon be a Grecian five-star hotel clause in Kontogiannis bail.

There was another major revelation in yesterday's hearing, which centered on Michael's motion to dismiss the charges against him. The SDUT also reports that prosecutors "indicated" that Kontogiannis might not testify against his nephew Michael and alleged Duke-briber Brent Wilkes. Perhaps they've calculated that all Tommy K's dirty laundry (which Michael's lawyer did his best to air) might become a distraction for a jury.