A major blow has been dealt to international fraud rings preying on Spanish-speaking Americans. David Cornejo Fernandez, a 36-year-old from Lima, Peru, was sentenced to 80 months in prison and ordered to pay over $3 million in restitution for orchestrating scams that targeted thousands of U.S. consumers.
How the Scheme Operated
Court documents reveal that Cornejo provided technology and services to call centers in Peru that defrauded victims across the United States.
These call centers made threatening calls, impersonating government officials and demanding payments for English-language products that victims never requested.
Cornejo supplied telephone lines, caller-ID spoofing software, and pre-recorded messages, enabling the fraudsters to convincingly pose as federal agents, police officers, attorneys, and court staff.
When victims reported suspicious numbers, Cornejo ensured new lines were provided so the scams could continue.
The Human Toll
These scams affected more than 8,800 U.S. victims and caused losses exceeding $3 million.
The victims, primarily Spanish-speaking consumers, were coerced into paying for products under the false threat of fines, court action, or legal consequences.
Part of a Broader Crackdown
Cornejo’s sentencing marks the ninth extradition from Peru in connection with similar English-language learning scams.
To date, 13 defendants have been convicted and sentenced for orchestrating these transnational fraud schemes, collectively defrauding over 30,000 Americans.
Other convicted defendants include Peruvian call center operators and U.S.-based distribution center owners responsible for processing payments.
Many of the defendants coordinated strategies to impersonate U.S. government officials and exploit vulnerable communities.
U.S. Agencies Involved
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch.
Prosecutors included Phil Toomajian and Carolyn Rice, with asset forfeiture handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda.
International cooperation was key, with support from the Peruvian National Prosecutor General’s Office, the Peruvian National Police, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ongoing Efforts Against Elder Fraud
The Justice Department continues to pursue similar cases targeting Spanish-speaking Americans.
Seniors and other vulnerable populations are urged to report financial fraud through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
Trained case managers provide guidance, resources, and referrals in English, Spanish, and other languages.
Reporting fraud early can help authorities recover losses and stop perpetrators.
Additional resources are available through the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative and the Consumer Protection Branch.
Complaints can also be submitted to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or via phone at 877-FTC-HELP.