Cuban-American business tycoon found dead in Miami

Sergio Pino, a Cuban-born businessman, was a prominent figure in the South Florida business community. News of his death, an apparent suicide, broke Tuesday as the FBI raided his home on Isla Dorada Boulevard in Coral Gables, Miami. The incident shocked the community because Pino was a well-known and respected philanthropist. His story served as an inspiration to countless immigrants striving to make their mark in the United States and achieve the success he did.

Sergio Pino: The Cuban Emigrant Who Built an Empire in Miami

Sergio Pino was born in Havana, Cubain 1956. He fled with his family to the United States when he was only 12 years old, settling into a small apartment in MiamiHis family was humble but hardworking. His mother washed and ironed clothes, while his father, a former merchant in Cuba, worked as a plumber in Cuba. FloridaAs a teenager, Sergio helped his family by cleaning carpets.

He graduated from Miami High School in 1975 and attended Miami-Dade Community College for two years before deciding to start a plumbing store in Hialeah with the help of his father, known as Century Plumbing. The business quickly took off, becoming the foundation of the vast empire that Sergio Pino would later build in Miami, the Caribbean and South America under the name Wholesale of the Century.

By 1989, Sergio Pino had amassed a fortune and acquired considerable prestige as a businessman in the United States. He became president of the Latino Builders Associationa Coral Gables-based construction group. In 1997, he founded the real estate holding company Century Partners Groupand later, the Century Home Builders Groupwhich has built more than 16,000 homes in South Florida alone.

His companies were very involved in community engagement, actively participating in various organizations and foundations. In addition to being president of the Latin Builders Association, he was a board member of Florida International University (FIU) and a founder of the Century Bank of the United Statesa project he later abandoned. His companies supported educational, health and community programs at prestigious institutions such as the League against cancerTHE Miami Children’s Hospitaland the Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Throughout his professional career, Pino has been the subject of numerous investigations by authorities but has never been formally charged. In 2002, a report by the Miami-Dade County inspector general criticized him for earning $14.6 million on an airport contract without actually working. In 2006, a federal investigation linked him to a fishing trip to Cancun for the Miami-Dade commissioner. Jose “Pepe” Diazbut no charges were filed.

Sergio Pino’s ties to Cuba

In September 2023, Sergio Pino hosted a delegation of about 70 Cuban entrepreneurs at his Coral Gables villa. They traveled to Miami to meet with U.S. officials and Cuban-American figures. He encouraged the entrepreneurs to develop business projects with the United States to promote private sector growth in Cuba.

In May 2024, Pino warned that the Cuban government would exploit the economic measures approved by the Biden administration, where the Treasury Department allowed private entrepreneurs to open bank accounts in the United States. However, Pino believed that the Cuban people could also benefit from these measures. “The Havana regime will try to infiltrate. Of course, there will be pitfalls, but these measures are nevertheless a positive step,” he said.

The divorce of Sergio and Tatiana Pino

In 2022, Sergio Pino’s private life took a dramatic turn when he began divorce proceedings with his second wife, Tatiana Pino. The 32-year marriage ended for reasons not disclosed to the press, and she accused him of attempted murder, charges he denied.

In recent months, Pino has been embroiled in a complicated legal process due to these accusations. Tatiana’s allegations sparked an investigation into claims that Pino conspired to poison her and threatened her sister. On the morning of July 16, 2024, the FBI raided his Coral Gables home to serve him with a court order related to these accusations. The SWAT team entered the residence and found Pino dead in an upstairs bedroom.

Sergio Pino is known for his support of charitable causes and his commitment to the growth of the Cuban-American community in the United States. His company, Century Homebuilders Group, is a testament to his business vision and dedication to the development of South Florida communities.