新泽西地产网红「Flipping NJ」认罪：庞氏式骗走投资者数百万美元 还替毒贩洗钱、行贿市政官员
美国司法部新泽西区联邦检察官办公室10月22日宣布，新泽西州地产投资人、网红 Cesar Humberto Pina（48岁，别名「Flipping NJ」）已在 Newark 联邦法院认罪，承认经营数百万美元的地产投资诈骗、替毒品贩运者洗钱，并向一名新泽西州地方官员行贿。联邦检察官 Robert Frazer 公布了这一认罪。
Pina 住在新泽西州 Franklin Lakes，10月22日在联邦地区法官 Madeline Cox Arleo 面前就一份四项罪名的替代起诉书认罪：电信诈骗一项、洗钱共谋一项、就接受联邦资金项目行贿一项、跨州旅行法行贿一项。量刑定于2027年3月10日。其中电信诈骗最高可判20年监禁，洗钱共谋最高可判20年，项目行贿最高可判10年，跨州旅行法行贿最高可判5年，并各附罚款。
据起诉文件与法庭陈述，Pina 与一名名人唱片骑师兼电台主持人合伙在全美各地举办地产研讨会，借研讨会、自我推广与营销积累了大量社交媒体粉丝。至少自2017年起，他向个人投资者募集资金，声称用于买卖、翻修特定地产项目，常承诺四到五个月内回报30%或更高。但他并未按承诺使用资金，而是将投资者资金混同挪用：用新投资者的钱支付早期投资者，形成庞氏式骗局，并把资金花在未经授权的商业与个人开支上，诈骗并挪用了数百万美元。
检察官还指，Pina 共谋为他明知从事毒品贩运等犯罪活动的人清洗非法资金，包括受管制物质销售所得。他还向新泽西州 Paterson 市一名地方官员行贿，以现金等财物换取对方在其「Old School 5」开发项目上采取官方行动、提供协助与影响力；该项目当时正在 Paterson 市分区调整委员会待审。据当地媒体报道，Pina 在认罪听证会上承认行贿逾5万美元，包括地产费用，意图让自己地产上的罚款与停工令被撤销；检察官办公室尚未对涉事官员提出指控，该官员姓名未公布。
联邦检察官 Robert Frazer 表示，Pina 承认挪用了本应用于地产投资的数百万美元、为毒品贩运者清洗现金，并为推进地产项目行贿政界人士，抢走了投资者的毕生积蓄，助长了毒品贩运，也损害了公众对民选官员的信任。联邦调查局 FBI Newark 办公室负责人 Stefanie Roddy 说，Pina 利用网红身份诱骗受害者、盗走投资者数百万美元，途中还替毒贩洗钱并行贿。此案由司法部新泽西区检察官办公室、缉毒局 DEA、邮政检查局、FBI 与国税局 IRS 刑事调查部门联合调查。
来源：GSM·美国
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.
Source: GSM, United States
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：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.
