According to court documents, Pina promoted real estate investment seminars and built a significant social media following through a partnership with a celebrity DJ and influencer. Between 2017 and the present, Pina allegedly solicited millions in investor funds by promising returns of 30% or more within months.
Rather than using the money to purchase, renovate, and resell properties as claimed, authorities said he commingled investor funds and used new capital to repay earlier investors, a classic Ponzi-like structure.
The investigation alleges that Pina defrauded investors across the United States and diverted funds toward unauthorized business and personal expenses. He also laundered money that law enforcement agents posed as drug proceeds as part of a sting operation and allegedly conspired to clean money for known narcotics traffickers.
“Rather than utilize his social media presence for the betterment of society, Mr. Humberto Pina chose to use it to expand his criminal activities,” said DEA New Jersey special agent in charge Cheryl Ortiz. “His actions, along with his willingness to launder money from drug proceeds, is no different than those individuals flooding our streets with illicit and diverted narcotics.”
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