the staff of the Ridgewood blog
FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — July 3, 2025 — a Bergen County woman has been indicted for obstruction of justice in connection with a multi-million dollar real estate investment fraud scheme that has already triggered more than a dozen lawsuits, federal officials announced.
According to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, Jennifer Iturralde Pina, a Franklin Lakes resident, was charged with destruction of evidence after allegedly destroying and hiding her cell phone when federal investigators executed a search warrant for the device.
📱 Real Estate Scheme Tied to “Flipping NJ”
Iturralde Pina is married to Cesar Pina, who operated the real estate venture known as “Flipping NJ.” The couple is accused of defrauding multiple individuals who invested millions of dollars under the pretense of real estate development and property flipping opportunities.
Cesar Pina was charged with wire fraud in October 2023 for his alleged role in the fraudulent investment operation. Victims claim they were promised lucrative returns but instead received nothing.
🚨 Allegations of Evidence Tampering
Federal court documents state that in February 2024, Jennifer Iturralde Pina allegedly:
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Urged a friend to convince a witness to stop cooperating with investigators
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Attempted to pass off her phone to that friend to hide it
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Ultimately destroyed and hid the device when law enforcement arrived with a warrant
She was formally charged in November 2024 and now faces a federal indictment for obstruction of justice.
⚖️ Potential Penalties
If convicted, Iturralde Pina faces:
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Up to 20 years in federal prison
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A fine of up to $250,000, or twice the financial gain or loss involved in the offense — whichever is greater
The case is part of a broader investigation into real estate fraud in New Jersey and has attracted attention due to the number of alleged victims and the high-profile nature of the couple’s business.
🧾 Background on the Lawsuits
Over a dozen civil lawsuits have been filed against the Pinas by individuals who claim they invested large sums into the couple’s ventures and were misled or defrauded. The scheme has drawn scrutiny from both federal law enforcement and consumer protection agencies.
🔎 Ongoing Investigation
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal investigators continue to investigate the full scope of the scheme, encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
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Her home address is one of the RHWONJ birthday cake houses built by Joe Gorga. Hmmm, flipping scheme?
The bigger crime is that you watch RHWONJ.