Celebrity House Flipper’s Wife Smashed Phone with Hammer to Hide Evidence in Ponzi Case, Say Feds
Celebrity House Flipper’s Wife Smashed Phone with Hammer to Hide Evidence in Ponzi Case, Say Feds
Jennifer Iturralde Pina, the wife of celebrity house flipper Cesar Humberto “Flipping NJ” Pina, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly destroying evidence in a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme investigation. Authorities claim that, as FBI agents were waiting at her door to seize her phone, Iturralde shattered it with a hammer in an attempt to keep incriminating information hidden.
Iturralde’s husband, Cesar Pina, a self-proclaimed real estate expert and associate of DJ Envy, is embroiled in a federal fraud case. Known for his seminars on “generational wealth” held with the popular radio personality DJ Envy, born RaaShaun Casey, Pina had promised investors returns of up to 45% within five months. In a 2021 Facebook video, Envy had said, “When this is all said and done, and I pass away and he passes away, our kids will get that money.” However, according to federal prosecutors, Pina’s promises were deceptive. The scheme allegedly involved selling stakes in properties he didn’t own, collecting money from multiple investors for the same properties, and even attempting to repay one investor with jewelry.
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Shattering Evidence in a High-Stakes Case
Although not initially charged in the Ponzi scheme, Iturralde is named in over 20 lawsuits tied to her husband’s alleged fraudulent activities. Her involvement took a sharp turn in March 2024 when federal agents arrived at her home with search warrants for her two cell phones. According to a newly unsealed criminal complaint, Iturralde destroyed one of her phones just as agents arrived, saying she had “smashed it with a hammer” and didn’t “know where it went.”
The FBI, tracking her phone’s location, determined that it was active near the Franklin Lakes residence just moments before agents knocked on her door. By the time she opened it, the phone had vanished. Though agents searched the home, the broken device was never found. Shortly after the incident, a new device was registered to Iturralde’s phone number, indicating she quickly obtained a replacement.
A Clandestine Network of Messages and Warnings
The complaint against Iturralde includes allegations of attempts to obstruct justice, detailing how she used an encrypted messaging app to reach out to a go-between, asking them to pressure a cooperating witness, identified as “Witness-1,” to cease communication with federal investigators. The complaint states that the go-between even met with Witness-1, grabbing their phone to ensure the conversation wasn’t recorded and advising them to delete key communications.
In the weeks leading up to the FBI’s visit, Iturralde reportedly instructed Witness-1 not to speak to law enforcement, underscoring the lengths to which she went to disrupt the investigation.
Legal Consequences Loom
If convicted of destroying records in a federal investigation, Iturralde could face up to 20 years in prison. Her actions have intensified the spotlight on the alleged Ponzi scheme surrounding her husband, whose past includes an 18-month prison stint for credit card fraud and drug-related charges before he transitioned into real estate.
With DJ Envy promoting Pina’s real estate ventures on his Power 105.1 FM show, "The Breakfast Club," the scheme gained traction among aspiring investors. Although Envy himself has not been charged, he reportedly lost $500,000 in the alleged scam.
Federal authorities, who have been tracking Pina and Iturralde’s activities for years, are now focusing on the smashed phone incident as part of their case. This bold attempt to destroy potential evidence highlights the high-stakes drama surrounding the high-profile Ponzi case, which has left dozens of investors defrauded and millions of dollars unaccounted for.
