NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man was charged today for a multi-million dollar bank fraud and securities fraud scheme operated through his company, Cash Flow Partners LLC (Cash Flow), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
He is scheduled to have his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.
Edward Espinal, 44, of Wayne, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of securities fraud
From , Espinal led and directed a bank fraud conspiracy designed to obtain millions of dollars in loans from banks on the basis of false representations. To attract customers, Cash Flow released internet advertisements and held seminars offering to assist customers with low-paying salaries in obtaining loans. These advertisements included promotional videos featuring Espinal and a former telenovela actor. Customers contacted Cash Flow and were routed to the company’s sales department.
Employees in the sales department then encouraged customers to sign up for various loan programs that Cash Flow provided and to enter into contracts with Cash Flow. Under those contracts, employees would help customers obtain loans from banks. The Cash Flow contracts permitted customers to keep a portion of the loan proceeds and customers agreed to provide the remaining percentage of the proceeds to Cash Flow. Cash Flow agreed to pay off the loans on behalf of its customers.
Espinal solicited investments from prospective customers using a paign on Spanish language television channels and the internet, the “Cash Flow TV” YouTube page, and live presentations in Cash Flow’s offices and elsewhere
Cash Flow then used false information and fraudulent document to obtain loans for its customers for which they otherwise would not have qualified, and posed as the customers in communications with the banks.
From , Espinal obtained more than $5 million in investments from victim investors on the basis of false and fraudulent pretenses and representations.
Espinal also solicited investments from individuals who obtained loans through Cash Flow’s bank fraud conspiracy, encouraging loan customers to invest loan proceeds in Cash Flow’s investment program. Once investors agreed to invest in Cash Flow, Espinal issued “promissory notes” to investors that guaranteed monthly investment returns between 1.25 percent and 4 percent. The promissory notes stated that Cash Flow would return investors’ principal either one year from the date of the promissory note, or 60 days after investors demanded payment. Espinal and other Cash Flow employees signed the promissory notes on behalf of Cash Flow.
Espinal made a number of misrepresentations to investors. He told investors that he would pool their funds with the funds of other investors in investments related to real estate, real estate companies, a gold mine in Ecuador, and construction projects in countries outside of the United States. In reality, Espinal used investor funds to pay returns to earlier investors, to pay for personal expenses for himself, his family, and another Cash Flow employee, to perpetuate the bank fraud scheme, and to market the bank fraud and investment scheme to future victims. Espinal falsely claimed that Cash Flow’s purported real estate fund, Cash Flow Capital, was “licensed” by the Securities and Exchange Commission. He guaranteed monthly returns on investment based on the purported proceeds from the sale of properties in Cash Flow’s investment portfolio. In reality, Espinal did not sell Cash Flow properties, so no profits were derived from the sale of Cash Flow properties.
Two other individuals, Raymundo Torres and Jennie Frias, have previously been charged for their roles in the Cash Flow bank fraud conspiracy. Torres has pleaded guilty.
The conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The securities fraud counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also filed a civil complaint against Espinal today based on the allegations underlying the securities fraud charge.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FDIC-Office of the Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. He also thanked the SEC for the assistance provided by its Enforcement Division.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari B. Fontecchio of the Economic Crimes Unit and J. Stephen Ferketic of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.