Joseph Shyknevsky Is Alleged To Have Hired At Least Four Unlicensed Individuals To Act As Dentists
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the indictment, arrest, and arraignment of Joseph Shyknevsky, 46, of Brooklyn, and four other individuals on charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud Medicaid. It is charged that Shyknevsky, a licensed dentist, hired individuals with no dental license, allowed them to perform dental work on Medicaid recipients, and billed the State for the dental work performed by those unlicensed individuals.
“Exploiting Medicaid by using unlicensed medical professionals not only drains the system of resources, it endangers the well-being of New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “New York has strong licensing requirements for healthcare, and those who think they can skirt these important safety rules will be held accountable.”
Prosecutors allege that, relying on the truth of Shynknevsky’s claims, Medicaid, either directly or through Managed Care providers, paid the Shyknevsky over $48,000 for dental work performed upon 110 Medicaid recipients by individuals who did not possess a license to practice dentistry. A Kings County grand jury returned an indictment against Shyknevsky; his corporation, JS Atlantic Dental PC; and four unlicensed individuals whom Shyknevsky hired to practice dentistry:
- Ilya Zolotar, 50, of Staten Island;
- Konstantin Shtrambrand, 46, of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania;
- Sergi Tolokolnikov, 57, of Staten Island; and
- Valerian Kverenchkhiladze, 43, of Brooklyn.
Zolotar, Shtrambrand and Tolokolnikov were previously arrested by the Attorney General’s office in 2014 for allegedly performing complicated dental procedures on patients, including filing and root canals, without a proper license. The Attorney General’s Office captured some of these procedures on video surveillance. The investigation into the alleged unlawful billing remained ongoing, which led to the indictment of Shyknevsky and his employees.
The Grand Jury charged each defendant with Healthcare Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” felony. The indictment also charges Shyknevsky, his company J.S. Atlantic Dental P.C., Zolotar, and Shtrambrand with other related charges including Unauthorized Practice a Profession (Dentistry), Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree; and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, all of which are class “E” felonies. The defendants pleaded not guilty when arraigned before Justice Suzanne Mondo of the New York State Supreme Court, Kings County and were released on their own recognizance. If convicted, each defendant faces up to seven years’ incarceration.
The Attorney General thanks Fidelis Care, DentaQuest, and United Healthcare of New York for the assistance they provided during the investigation.
The Attorney General also thanks the US Department of Health And Human Services—Office of the Inspector General for referring the investigation to our office.
The charges against the defendant are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
