NJ woman indicted after destroying evidence used in husband’s federal real estate fraud case

(WPHL) — A woman from Bergen County has been indicted after she destroyed evidence being seized by police for her husband’s federal real estate fraud scheme case.

According to U.S Attorney Alina Habba, 43-year-old Jennifer Iturralde Pina destroyed a cell phone for which law enforcement officers executed a search warrant and seizure.

Jennifer’s husband, Cesar Humberto Pina, a/k/a “Flipping NJ” (“Pina”), had been charged in October 2023 with wire fraud in connection with an alleged real estate investment fraud scheme.

In late February 2024, Jennifer allegedly asked a friend to confront a witness and ask them to stop cooperating with federal investigators.

She then attempted to give her cell phone to that same friend for safekeeping, but that friend declined.

When investigators knocked on her door on March 5 with a warrant to seize and search her cell phone, Iturralde destroyed and hid the phone.

Attorney Habba says, “the charge of destruction of records carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain that any persons derived from the offense, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense, whichever is greatest.”