*The man at the center of a real estate fraud lawsuit with “Breakfast Club” host DJ Envy reportedly has a criminal record, including credit card fraud and drug-related offenses.
We reported previously that Anthony Barone and Anthony Martini are taking legal action against DJ Envy and his partners, Cesar and Jennifer Pina, who are known for posting real estate projects on social media, The Real Deal reported. The lawsuit accuses the trio of taking off with $1.5 million in investments for a planned 50-unit apartment project called Taylor Apartments.
According to Moguldom, Cesar was a penniless man when he walked out of prison more than a decade ago and today he’s allegedly worth $65 million.
“In 2005 he was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison. A day before he turned himself in, he married his fiancee, who was pregnant then. What would seem to be his lowest moment actually turned into a blessing,” Earn Your Leisure once described Piña’s journey, per Moguldom.
Cesar allegedly partnered with DJ Envy in 2018 and created real estate seminars for people looking to break into the industry. According to Barone and Martin, they invested in two real estate ventures promoted by DJ Envy and the Piñas. However, the suit alleges they disappeared with the money without following up on the project.
The lawsuit also claims that posts on social media tipped Barone off to accusations that DJ Envy and the Pinas operate a Ponzi scheme, Hot New Hip Hop reports.
Despite COVID-19 being cited as a potential reason for the delay in the 50-unit apartment project, plaintiffs are still suing DJ Envy and the Piñas for defrauding them.
DJ Envy denies taking the money and ghosting the investors. He claims he is also a victim of a similar scam with Piñas in a separate project involving his own personal investment of $500,000, Moguldom reports.
READ MORE: DJ Envy Facing Real Estate Fraud Lawsuit, Rick Ross Responds
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