Former Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services Employee Pleads Guilty in Gwinnett County Following Guilty Plea in Fulton County

Former Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services Employee Pleads Guilty in Gwinnett County Following Guilty Plea in Fulton County

Valeriy Molokandov pled guilty on June 16, 2011, in Gwinnett County Superior Court to Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance Benefits (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-15) before Judge R. Timothy Hamilton.

Molokandov was indicted for using his position as a Family Independence Case Manager with the Multi-County Refugee Resettlement Unit of the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services to assist a number offamily members and friends with fraudulently obtaining food stamps for which they were not eligible. The indictment charges that Molokandov aided in falsely acquiring over $12,000.00 in benefits. He has since been terminated from his position.

Molokandov was sentenced to five years, serving one year of house arrest and four years of probation. He has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of 12,596.00. Molokandov also pled guilty to Medicaid Fraud (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-146.1(b)) in Fulton County on June 3, 2011. His co-defendant, Rena Molokandova, pled guilty last month in Gwinnett County to one count of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-15) and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance (O.C.G.A. § 16-4-8).

Assistant Attorney General Greg Lohmeier prosecuted Molokandov on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Ralph Harper, formerly with the Department of Community Health, David Nave, formerly with the Department of Human Resources, and Jim Rees of the Georgia Department of Human Services.