A resident of Lima, Peru, has been extradited to the United States and appeared today in federal court in Miami, facing charges related to facilitating fraud schemes orchestrated by several Peruvian call centers that targeted victims across the United States. The Justice Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) announced the news.

Charges Against David Cornejo Fernandez

David Cornejo Fernandez, 36, is accused of participating in a series of fraudulent activities. He was arrested by Peruvian authorities on May 17, following a U.S. extradition request, and has remained in custody since then. Cornejo faces federal charges of wire fraud, extortion, and conspiracy.

According to the indictment, between November 2012 and June 2019, Cornejo provided internet-based telephone lines, caller ID spoofing services, and recording capabilities to fraudulent call centers. These centers, operating in Peru, made fraudulent and extortionate calls to vulnerable Spanish-speaking residents in the United States. Victims were misled into believing they were selected to receive prizes such as tablets with English language courses. Once victims showed interest, they were pressured into making large payments to claim these prizes. Callers often impersonated attorneys, court officials, federal agents, and police officers, threatening the victims with legal repercussions if they failed to pay.

Cornejo’s involvement allegedly went beyond just providing technology. He supplied the training necessary to make the fraudulent calls seem legitimate, including the use of software to manipulate phone numbers on victims’ caller IDs, making it appear as though the calls were originating from U.S. federal agencies. Cornejo also added pre-recorded messages to his co-conspirators’ inbound phone lines, including messages from fake U.S. court officials, police departments, and federal agencies like the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These recordings were used to intimidate victims and extort payments from consumers in the Southern District of Florida and beyond.

Statements from Officials

“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who seek to take advantage of vulnerable U.S. consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. He also thanked the Peruvian authorities for their assistance in extraditing Cornejo.

“The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, including the elderly and recent immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.

USPIS Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the Miami Division added: “The initial appearance of David Cornejo Fernandez demonstrates our commitment to stopping those who victimize our citizens. We appreciate the tireless efforts of the Republic of Peru and all law enforcement partners involved in combating these transnational schemes that defraud U.S. consumers.”

Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties

A six-count federal indictment was filed in February 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and was unsealed upon Cornejo’s extradition. Cornejo is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and extortion. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, with the sentencing to be determined by a federal district court judge after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The USPIS investigated the case, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Peruvian National Police, and the Peruvian Attorney General’s Office. Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case.

Related Extradition Stories

For more details on other recent extradition cases, you may find the following articles helpful:

The Extradition Report

Want to understand more about the extradition process? The Extradition Report, a special report written by extradition expert Richard Barr outlines exactly how the process works.