U.S. Virgin Islands – V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea has announced the arrest and advice of rights hearing for 51-year-old Julian Enrique Cuello, a St. Thomas resident and fugitive wanted in Pennsylvania. Cuello, who was apprehended on St. Thomas, faces multiple charges related to Medicaid fraud in Pennsylvania and is currently awaiting extradition to stand trial in the state.
Cuello was arrested on March 24, 2025, by Special Agent Lisa Herbert of the Virgin Islands Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the Virgin Islands Department of Justice (DOJ). She was assisted by Special Agent D-Ganric Callwood from DOJ Special Investigations Division. Cuello appeared before the Honorable Judge Paula Norkaitis at the V.I. Superior Court for his Advice of Rights Hearing on March 25, 2025, and has not been granted bail as he awaits extradition.
Cuello’s arrest follows a request for assistance from the DOJ MFCU on November 25, 2024, made by Special Agent Matthew G. Yocum of the Pennsylvania Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Agent Yocum had informed Agent Herbert that Cuello who was wanted on multiple crimes including Medicaid Fraud in Pennsylvania was believed to be residing and working in the U.S. Virgin Islands and had been doing so for several years. In January 2025, a warrant for Cuello’s arrest, issued by Pennsylvania Judge Kristina Anzini, was provided to DOJ MFCU. For the past three months, law enforcement authorities conducted surveillance on St. Thomas, confirming Cuello’s presence on the island. On March 24, 2025, Cuello was located at a local business during working hours, where he was arrested without incident. He was transported to the Virgin Islands Department of Justice at the GERS Building and then transferred to the Richard Callwood Command at the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex for processing. Cuello is now in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections, awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
The indictment charges Cuello with submitting false information to the Pennsylvania Medicaid Program for purposes of receiving greater compensation than entitled; submitting or causing a claim to be submitted to the Pennsylvania Medicaid Program for services which were not rendered; and submitting a claim to the Pennsylvania Medicaid Program which misrepresented the description of services provided. Additional charges include conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, insurance fraud, theft by deception and tampering with public records.
AG Rhea commended the efforts of the MFCU and the Special Investigation Division in the arrest, stating, “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. Their dedication and coordination were instrumental in locating and apprehending Mr. Cuello, ensuring that he will face justice for his alleged crimes. 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. We remain steadfast in our efforts to support the integrity of our public programs”, said AG Rhea.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2025
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov