Franklin Lakes influencer indicted
Accused of fraud, money laundering
By: Kaitlyn Kanzler
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... A Bergen county real estate influencer facing two dozen lawsuits was indicted by a federal grand jury this week [07/10/2025] in a multi-million-dollar investment scheme
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Cesar Pina of Franklin Lakes, known as Flipping NJ on social media, is charged with running a multi-million-dollar Ponzi-like fraud, conspiring to launder drug proceeds, laundering money represented to be drug proceeds as part of a sting operation, and ribbing a New Jersey politician, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said in a press release.
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Charges against Pina include two counts of wire fraud, one court of money laundering conspiracy, two counts of money laundering and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
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The Press release did not name the public official who allegedly was bribed, and the U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediate return a call or email for comment. The charges of bribery and drug proceeds are newer allegations.
..... Pina allegedly paid the city official with cash, checks, campaign contributions and bogus real estate commissions in exchange for the official's influence over the Paterson zoning board to get approvals too convert a long-vacant school building on Totowa Avenue into 60 apartments, the indictment said.
..... The official allegedly took the bribes for help in getting the housing development proposal on the zoning board;s agenda and for efforts to secure votes for passage of the project.
..... Pine was arrested in October [2024] an his wife, Jennifer Iturraide Pina, was indicted this month [07/2025] on charges of destroying evidence relate to the case. Iturrilde Pina has been named in several of the lawsuits, along with Raashaun Casey, a popular DJ known as DJ Envy. they are accused of defrauding people out of potentially millions of dollars.
..... Many of the lawsuits allege that individuals who invested with the Pines were promised returns up to 20% to 45% within five months. Some people never saw a dime of what they gave to the pines.
..... "Cesar Pina is alleged to have misappropriated millions of dollars of people's hard-earned money, laundered money for narcotics traffickers, and bribed a politician in furtherance of real estate projects," Habba said.
..... She said Pina's "torrent of criminal activity" hurt investors across the country, allowed narcotics traffic and "undermined confidence in our public officials."
..... "Leveraging his social media prominence, it is alleged Cesar Pina provided services for narcotics traffickers bribed a government official, and defrauded unsuspecting investors out of millions of dollars, all for personal gain," said Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of IRS Criminal investigation at the Newark Field Office.
..... Several of Pina's alleged victims spoke out in November 2023, with some saying the schemes cause their lives to fall apart.
..... One of the victims, Stanly Acosta, went into deep debt because of Pina's broken promises and was in the middle of a divorce. Another victim had to sell his car rental business and all the vehicles and took out a home equity line of credit on his house to try to recoup his losses.
..... The Pinas themselves have filed a lawsuit against a consumer lending company, Pride Funding LLC. In the filing on October 18, [2024] the Pinas and their LLCs say Pride Funding participated in predatory loan practices.
..... Cheryl Ortiz, a New Jersey special agent in charge with the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Pina used his social media presence to "expand his criminal activities" rather than for "the betterment of society."
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Pina would face significant time in prison and hefty fines if he is convicted. A court date has not been scheduled.
..... Joe Malinconico of Paterson Press contributed to this story.