MIAMI, FL – David Cornejo Fernandez, 36, of Lima, Peru, was sentenced today to 80 months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $3 million in restitution for his role in a transnational fraud scheme that targeted more than 8,800 Spanish-speaking victims across the United States.
Cornejo pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He was extradited from Peru in November 2024 to face charges related to a years-long scheme involving fraudulent Peruvian call centers that impersonated U.S. officials to extort payments from vulnerable consumers. These call centers falsely claimed victims owed money for English-language learning products they never ordered and threatened legal action if they failed to pay.
According to court documents, Cornejo provided the technical infrastructure—including internet-based telephone lines, spoofed caller IDs, and recorded messages—to allow his co-conspirators to impersonate U.S. government agencies and officials. He continued to support the scheme even after victims reported the fraud, helping the network obtain new phone numbers to continue their operations.
The sentencing, handed down in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, marks the 13th conviction in a broader effort to dismantle call center fraud targeting Spanish-speaking residents. Cornejo is the ninth defendant extradited from Peru in connection with these schemes. Other defendants received prison sentences ranging from 88 to 110 months.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch. Prosecution was handled by Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian, Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda. Several agencies, including the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Marshals Service, and Peruvian law enforcement, provided critical assistance.
Victims of elder fraud can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). For additional information on elder justice and fraud prevention, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch or www.ovc.gov.
