New Jersey Real Estate Influencer 'Flipping NJ' Pleads Guilty to Investor Fraud, Laundering Drug Proceeds and Bribery
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey announced on October 22 that Cesar Humberto Pina, 48, a New Jersey real estate investor and online influencer known as "Flipping NJ," pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark to committing a multi-million dollar real estate investment fraud scheme, laundering money for drug traffickers, and bribing a New Jersey politician. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced the plea.
Pina, of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to a four-count superseding information charging wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, and Travel Act bribery. Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2027. Wire fraud carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, money laundering conspiracy a maximum of 20 years, the federal-funds bribery count a maximum of 10 years, and the Travel Act bribery count a maximum of five years, each with fines.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Pina partnered with a celebrity disc jockey and radio personality to conduct real estate seminars around the country and built a significant social media following. Starting in at least 2017, he accepted money from individual investors for the alleged purchase, remodel, and sale of specific properties in New Jersey and other states, often promising returns of 30 percent or more within four to five months. Instead of using the funds as promised, he commingled and misappropriated investors' money, using new investor funds to pay earlier investors in a Ponzi-like scheme and spending funds on unauthorized business and personal expenses, fraudulently obtaining and misappropriating millions of dollars.
Prosecutors said Pina also conspired to launder illicit funds, including proceeds from the sale of controlled substances, for individuals he knew were engaged in narcotics trafficking and other crimes. He also bribed a local official of Paterson, New Jersey, providing cash and other bribes in exchange for official action, assistance, and influence on his "Old School 5" development project, which had applications pending before the Paterson Zoning Board of Adjustment. Local reporting said Pina admitted at his plea hearing to paying more than $50,000 in bribes, including real estate fees, seeking to have fines and stop-work orders on his properties removed; prosecutors have not charged the official, who was not named.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said Pina admitted to misappropriating millions of dollars meant for real estate investments, laundering cash for narcotics traffickers, and bribing a politician to further his projects, in conduct that robbed investors of their life savings, helped facilitate drug trafficking, and undermined confidence in elected officials. FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy said Pina lured victims by exploiting his online influencer persona. The case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于新泽西州 Newark 的 Peter W. Rodino Jr. 联邦大楼（资料图）。Ajay Suresh 摄，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Peter W. Rodino Jr. Federal Building in Newark, New Jersey (file photo). Photo by Ajay Suresh, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
