Mugshot of Julian Enrique Cuello. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Julian Enrique Cuello, a 51-year-old resident of St. Thomas, is in custody following his arrest on March 24 in connection with multiple charges of Medicaid fraud originating in Pennsylvania, the V.I. Department of Justice has announced.
Cuello, who had been living and working in the U.S. Virgin Islands for several years, was apprehended by local authorities and is now awaiting extradition to face prosecution in Pennsylvania.
DOJ said the arrest was carried out by Special Agent Lisa Herbert of the V.I. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), operating under the V.I. Department of Justice. She was assisted by Special Agent D-Ganric Callwood of the DOJ Special Investigations Division.
Cuello was taken into custody at a local business during working hours without incident. Following his arrest, he was processed at the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex after being transported to the DOJ office at the GERS Building.
On March 25, Cuello appeared before Judge Paula Norkaitis at the V.I. Superior Court for his advice of rights hearing. He was not granted bail and remains in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections as extradition proceedings are pending.
The arrest stems from an interstate collaboration initiated 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 to request assistance in locating Cuello. At that time, Cuello was wanted in Pennsylvania for a series of Medicaid-related crimes and was believed to be residing in the territory. In January 2025, Pennsylvania Judge Kristina Anzini issued a formal arrest warrant, which was forwarded to Virgin Islands authorities, according to the V.I. DOJ.
Over the course of three months, law enforcement agents conducted surveillance to confirm Cuello’s presence on St. Thomas. Once verified, action was taken to arrest and process him in accordance with extradition protocols.
According to the Pennsylvania indictment, Cuello faces several charges related to fraudulent activity within the state’s Medicaid system. These include submitting false information to obtain higher reimbursements, filing claims for services not rendered, and misrepresenting the nature of services provided. Additional charges include conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, insurance fraud, theft by deception, and tampering with public records.
Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea acknowledged the combined efforts that led to Cuello’s apprehension. “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,” AG Rhea said. “Their dedication and coordination were instrumental in locating and apprehending Mr. Cuello, ensuring that he will face justice for his alleged crimes.”
Rhea noted that the case demonstrates the strength of interagency cooperation and the commitment of the Virgin Islands DOJ and its divisions to uphold 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 said. “We remain steadfast in our efforts to support the integrity of our public programs.”
