The V.I. Department of Justice has reported that Julian Enrique Cuello, a 51-year-old St. Thomas resident, is in detention after being arrested on March 24 on multiple allegations of Medicaid fraud stemming from Pennsylvania.
Cuello, who had been living and working in the United States Virgin Islands for several years, was captured by local officials and is now awaiting extradition to face charges in Pennsylvania.
According to the DOJ, Special Agent Lisa Herbert of the V.I. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), which operates under the V.I. Department of Justice, made the arrest. Special Agent D-Ganric Callwood from the Department of Justice’s Special Investigations Division assisted her.
During business hours, a neighborhood company apprehended Cuello without incident. Following his arrest, he was transferred to the DOJ office in the GERS Building and processed at the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex.
Cuello appeared before Judge Paula Norkaitis of the Virgin Islands Superior Court on March 25 for an advice of rights hearing. He was denied bail and remains in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections while extradition processes are ongoing.
The arrest resulted from an interagency collaboration that began late last year. On November 25, 2024, Special Agent Matthew G. Yocum of the Pennsylvania Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Harrisburg contacted the Virgin Islands DOJ MFCU for assistance in finding Cuello. Cuello was wanted in Pennsylvania for a number of Medicaid-related crimes at the time, and he was believed to be living there. According to the Virgin Islands Department of Justice, Pennsylvania Judge Kristina Anzini issued a formal arrest warrant in January 2025, which was transmitted to authorities in the Virgin Islands.
Over three months, law enforcement personnel conducted surveillance to corroborate Cuello’s presence on St. Thomas. Upon validation, law enforcement personnel proceeded to arrest and process Cuello in line with extradition procedures.
According to the Pennsylvania indictment, Cuello is facing various charges stemming from fraudulent behavior within the state’s Medicaid system. These include providing incorrect information to receive higher reimbursements, filing claims for services not given, and misrepresenting the type of services provided. The charges also include conspiracy to conduct Medicaid fraud, insurance fraud, theft by deception, and tampering with public data.
Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea appreciated the collaborative efforts that resulted in Cuello’s arrest. “I want to commend DOJ Special Agents Lisa Herbert and D-Ganric Callwood for their exceptional work in collaborating with Special Agent Matthew Yocum from Pennsylvania,” Rhea, the AG, said. “Their dedication and coordination were instrumental in locating and apprehending Mr. Cuello, ensuring that he will face justice for his alleged crimes.”
Rhea stated that the case highlights the strength of interagency cooperation, as well as the Virgin Islands DOJ and its divisions’ commitment to maintaining the integrity of public assistance programs. “The arrest underscores the commitment of the MFCU and the Virgin Islands Department of Justice to work collaboratively with our partners across the nation to ensure that individuals facing serious charges cannot evade justice,” he told reporters. “We remain steadfast in our efforts to support the integrity of our public programs.”
