Rena Molokandova pled guilty yesterday 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) before Judge R. Timothy Hamil in Gwinnett County Superior Court.

The charges stem from Ms. Molokandova’s involvement in fraudulently obtaining food stamps while living in Gwinnett County with Valeriy Molokandov. Between 1998 and 2006, Ms. Molokandova failed to disclose that Mr. Molokandov was living with her, and as a result, received over $12,000.00 in food stamp benefits for which she was not eligible because of earnings obtained by Mr. Molokandov.

Mr. Molokandov is a former Family Independence Case Manager with the Multi-County Refugee Resettlement Unit of the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services. He is currently under indictment in Fulton County on related charges and was also indicted in Gwinnett County along with Ms. Molokandova. Their daughter, Bella Molokandova, entered a guilty plea in 2009 to Medicaid Fraud in a related case.

Rena Molokandova was sentenced to five years probation and has been ordered to pay $12,596.00 in restitution.

Assistant Attorney General Greg Lohmeier prosecuted Ms. Molokandova 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.