New Jersey real estate influencer indicted for evidence tampering

A Franklin Lakes woman allegedly destroyed her cell phone as federal agents arrived to execute a search warrant tied to her husband’s real estate investment fraud investigation.

Jennifer Pina, 43, was indicted Thursday on one count of destruction of records in a federal investigation, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. The charge stems from the alleged March 5, 2024 destruction of her phone as FBI agents knocked on her door with a warrant to seize and search the device.

The case connects to an ongoing federal investigation into her husband, Cesar Pina, who operated under the name “Flipping NJ.” Cesar was charged in October 2023 with wire fraud related to an alleged multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme targeting real estate investors. The influencer allegedly promised returns of 20 percent to 45 percent within five months on New Jersey fix-and-flip projects while using new investor funds to pay earlier victims and finance personal expenses.

Mrs. Pina’s alleged attempt to obstruct the investigation in late February 2024 by asking a friend to confront a witness and request they stop cooperating with federal investigators, according to prosecutors. Days later, she tried to give her cell phone to the same friend for safekeeping, but the friend was unable to take the device.

On March 5, 2024, federal investigators came to Mrs. Pina’s door with a warrant to seize and search her cell phone, according to prosecutors, who allegedly destroyed and hid the device.

The destruction of evidence carries significant penalties. The maximum penalty includes 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain or loss, whichever is greatest.

Mrs. Pina had already been charged for a similar complaint, appearing before a federal judge in Newark in November.

Charges against Cesar Pina remain pending. He and a celebrity radio personality allegedly partnered on real estate seminars across the country to help build up a large social media following, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Jersey in October 2023. The radio personality wasn’t named in the documents, but reports have suggested Power 105.1’s DJ Envy was Cesar’s business partner.

A pair of investors filed a lawsuit accusing the influencer couple, along with The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy of defrauding the investors out of $1.5 million for an apartment project that never materialized. They alleged the trio took off with their combined investment for projects including a 50-unit development in Paterson.