David Cornejo Fernandez, a Peruvian national, pleaded guilty to his role in a sweeping transnational fraud scam targeting Spanish-speaking U.S. consumers. As the 13th defendant in this case, Cornejo admitted to supplying call centers in Peru with the tools to impersonate U.S. authorities and to scare victims into paying for non-existent consequences tied to English-language products, according to the Department of Justice.
These operations leaned heavily on Internet-based telephone lines and spoofing services that misrepresented caller IDs, making threatening calls seem as if they originated from legitimate government entities. Cornejo provided not just the technology but occasionally the training for co-conspirators to pose as federal agents, police officers, and other officials. In the end, more than 30,000 consumers were defrauded, with losses totaling around $15 million.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate stated, "The Department of Justice is committed to protecting vulnerable U.S. consumers from fraud, especially schemes carried out by criminals impersonating U.S. government officials." Furthermore, the cooperation with Peruvian authorities was emphasized, as they played a critical role in the arrest and extradition of individuals like Cornejo linked to these cons, as per the Department of Justice.
Cornejo's guilty plea to the charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud could land him a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. The details of his plea, as reported by the Justice Department, reveal his extensive involvement in facilitating this ruthless exploitation of vulnerable individuals. His sentencing has been scheduled for September 25 before Senior U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola in Miami.
Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service commented on the doggedness of his service: "Setting up fake call centers to harass and intimidate innocent victims, Cornejo and his co-conspirators, crafted a campaign of fear designed to rob people of not only their savings but their peace of mind. If you target Americans, no matter where you are in the world we will find you," as noted by the same press release.
The case has been actively pursued by various arms of the U.S. government, including the Consumer Protection Branch and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, among others. Individuals who believe they have fallen victim to similar frauds, particularly those aged 60 and older, are encouraged to reach out to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 for support and guidance in reporting and possibly recovering from such financial losses.
