Franklin Lakes real estate influencer 'Flipping NJ' faces prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud and bribery charges
Pina leveraged his online persona and partnerships with a celebrity radio personality to host nationwide real estate seminars.
Oct 23, 2026, 5:42 AM
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A real estate investor and social media influencer known online as "Flipping NJ" pleaded guilty in federal court to operating a multimillion-dollar investment fraud scheme, laundering drug proceeds and bribing a local politician.
Cesar Humberto Pina, 48, entered his guilty plea before a U.S. district judge in Newark to a four-count superseding information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, federal program bribery and Travel Act bribery.
Beginning in at least 2017, Pina leveraged his online persona and partnerships with a celebrity radio personality to host nationwide real estate seminars and build a massive social media following. Federal prosecutors said Pina used his platform to solicit individual investments for buying, remodeling and flipping residential properties in New Jersey and other states, promising returns of 30% or higher within four to five months.
Instead of funding real estate projects as promised, Pina ran a Ponzi-like operation — commingling investor funds, paying off earlier investors with money from new victims and spending funds on unauthorized personal and business expenses.
Federal authorities also revealed that Pina conspired to launder illicit cash proceeds generated by narcotics traffickers and paid cash bribes to an official in Paterson, New Jersey. The bribes were aimed at securing official assistance and influence for his "Old School 5" development project, which had applications pending before the Paterson Zoning Board of Adjustment.
"Cesar Pina admitted to misappropriating millions of dollars meant for real estate investments, laundering cash for narcotics traffickers, and bribing a politician in furtherance of real estate projects," U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said in a statement following the plea.
Pina faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud and money laundering charges, 10 years for federal program bribery and five years for Travel Act bribery, along with substantial financial penalties.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2027.
