CLARKSBURG, WV — Diana Mae Fernandez, a 38-year-old woman from Bergenfield, New Jersey, pled guilty to wire fraud today in a case involving an elaborate investment scheme that scammed over $300,000 from victims across multiple states, including West Virginia.
U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced Fernandez’s guilty plea, revealing that she operated under various aliases such as “Diana Fernandez Koporan,” “Dana Fernandez,” and “Dajana Ko.” She ran fraudulent investment firms under the names “The Self Made Success” and “Diana Mae K., LLC.” Fernandez used social media and email to lure investors with promises of “no-risk” and “guaranteed” returns. Instead of investing the funds, she misused the money for personal expenses, offering fabricated excuses for the lack of returns.
One of Fernandez’s victims was from Marion County, West Virginia, and her fraudulent actions impacted victims from various locations. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld urged potential investors to be cautious, warning, “We should always approach investment opportunities that promise high returns and no risk with skepticism.” He recommended using the FINRA BrokerCheck tool to research financial brokers, advisers, and firms before investing.
Fernandez now faces up to 20 years in prison, with the final sentence to be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.