Fake Doctor Raúl Villalobos-Meléndez Admits Fraud

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A brazen attempt to cut corners and practice medicine without a license has landed Raúl D. Villalobos-Meléndez, 36, in federal court. The San Juan resident pleaded guilty today to one count of making false statements and representations to an agency of the United States, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). Villalobos-Meléndez wasn’t just bending the truth; he built an elaborate house of cards based on forged documents and outright lies.

The scheme, according to court documents, centered around deceiving the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Villalobos-Meléndez falsely presented himself as a licensed physician to CMS, the federal agency responsible for administering Medicare and Medicaid. While he *did* earn his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Science Arts and Technology-Monserrat College of Medicine in June 2018, he repeatedly failed the crucial United States Medical License Examination (USMLE). Instead, he secured a Physician Assistant license in April 2021 – a vastly different qualification.

But a PA license wasn’t enough. Villalobos-Meléndez allegedly altered his PA credentials, transforming them into fraudulent Provisional and Permanent Medical Licenses. This forgery was the cornerstone of his deception. In 2023, he used these fabricated licenses to apply for a Post-Graduate Medical Education Internship Program at Hospital del Maestro in San Juan. He even submitted forged USMLE score reports, claiming to have passed all three steps of the exam – a claim prosecutors say is demonstrably false. The hospital accepted the application, and Villalobos-Meléndez began receiving a salary for work he was unqualified to perform.

The fraud didn’t stop there. In September 2024, Villalobos-Meléndez submitted a fraudulent application to CMS, seeking enrollment as a physician practitioner and Medicare provider. He listed a fabricated Puerto Rico medical license number (“166037”) and falsely designated himself a “General Practitioner.” He even arranged for Physician HMO to accept reassignment of Medicare benefits, with the organization’s president signing off under penalty of perjury. For over a year – from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024 – Villalobos-Meléndez practiced as a physician at Hospital del Maestro, all while lacking the necessary credentials.

“The defendant lied to Puerto Rican and federal agencies by falsifying his documents and pretending to be a certified physician,” stated U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow. “This poses a danger to those who seek health care from medical professionals.” Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), added, “Using a forged medical license…is a serious breach of public trust.”

The HHS-OIG and other law enforcement partners are sending a clear message: attempts to infiltrate the healthcare system with fraudulent credentials will be met with swift and decisive action. The case highlights the ongoing vulnerability of healthcare programs to fraud and the potential risks to patient safety. Sentencing for Raúl D. Villalobos-Meléndez has not yet been scheduled. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

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