Real Estate Influencer ‘Flipping NJ’ Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Fraud Scheme

A popular real estate influencer has pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of millions of dollars of their hard-earned cash in a ‘ponzi-like’ scheme that also involved money laundering for drug traffickers and the bribing of a New Jersey politician.Cesar Humberto Pina, 48, also known as “Flipping NJ,” of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Oct. 22 to wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, bribery of an agent of a program receiving federal funds, and travel act bribery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.The scheme dates back to at least 2017 when Pina began accepting investments from individuals, promising to use their money to purchase, renovate and sell specific properties in New Jersey and other states, federal prosecutors said. He developed a large following after hosting several real estate investment seminars throughout the country, often appearing alongside a celebrity disc jockey and radio personality. Although that DJ is not named in court filings, Pina was a close associate of The Breakfast Club co-host DJ Envy, who denies knowledge of Pina's crimes and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.To attract investors, Pina oft...