The latest headlines from our reporters across the U.S. delivered straight to your inbox every weekday
Your briefing on the latest news in the United States
A prominent Miami The real estate titan accused of poisoning his ex-wife was found dead by suicide at his home during a FBI raid, while he was accused of plotting to kill her.
Sergio Pino, 67, was found dead in an upstairs bedroom by an FBI agent CRUSH The team that invaded the developer’s multi-million dollar luxury home in a gated community in Coral Gables on Tuesday.
The SWAT team discovered Pino’s body while confiscating electronic devices, safes and three boxes of documents from the house, WPLG reported.
Pino, founder of Century Homebuilders Group, was under investigation by the FBI after his wife of 32 years, Tatiana Pino, alleged in a divorce proceeding that he repeatedly poisoned her with fentanyl. Pino was never charged with any crime before his death.
Pino’s attorney, Sam Rabin, confirmed to WPLG that Pino committed suicide and criticized law enforcement’s handling of the situation.
“Sergio Pino committed suicide today. The level of law enforcement activity at his home was unprecedented and unnecessary, especially since we had offered to hand him over if necessary,” he said.
“Today’s events mark the tragic end of an investigation that we were confident we could successfully defend. There were plenty of rumors and allegations, but what was lacking was evidence.”
The FBI investigation follows allegations made by Pino’s wife, Tatiana, when she filed for divorce in April 2022. She claimed that Pino secretly slipped her fentanyl and that he had a “financial motive” to poison her.
She said a doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore detected fentanyl in her system and she was intubated six times.
Tatiana testified that when she was released, her doctor told her to stay at her sister’s house while she recovered rather than return home to her “normal environment.”
“They were afraid for me because if it had happened to me again, I would have died,” Tatiana said.
In August 2023, Tatiana was the victim of what authorities described as a targeted hit-and-run. Video shows Tatiana pulling into her driveway as a Home Depot rental truck hits her passenger side before speeding away.
Four people were arrested following the incident, including Bayron Bennett, who worked for Sergio Pino, WPLG reported, citing an FBI statement. The document claims Bennett helped serve food and drinks on Pino’s yacht.
One of the suspects, Michael Dulfo, later told investigators he had been “hired” to commit the crime “by someone working for the opposing party” in Pino’s divorce case, according to the affidavit.
“In this already complicated divorce, we have had to deal with terrorism and attacks on Tatiana’s life. It’s really terrible,” Tatiana Pino’s attorney, Raymond J. Rafool, told WPLG.
“Fortunately, the FBI is involved and working hard to keep Tatiana safe and bring those responsible to justice.”
Sergio Pino’s attorney, Deanna Shifrin, said in a statement that there was “no indication that he ever hurt or intended to hurt” his wife.
“He was a gentle and kind man, loved and respected by the many people he employed in his businesses. He loved his children and grandchildren and spoke of little else,” Shifrin added.
“I believe the combination of an unnecessarily destructive divorce and selective and salacious media coverage humiliated him and led to this tragedy.”
Pino and Tatiana married in 1992 and have two children. Their combined net worth in 2021 was $359 million, according to a financial statement cited in a deposition in the divorce, WTVJ reported.
Another claim, presented during the same deposition, was about $153 million, which Pino said was accurate, according to the local media outlet. The higher figure was “a joke,” he said.
When Tatiana filed for divorce in 2022, she stated in court documents that she was entitled to alimony.
“Ms. Pino quit her job and gave up her career to be a stay-at-home mom to holiday children and be a homemaker,” according to the documents reported by the Miami Herald.
“Mrs. Pino is unemployed outside the home while her husband is an extremely successful businessman and entrepreneur.”
The filings state that the Pinos “live a lavish and luxurious lifestyle.”
However, in a counter-petition, Pino said Tatiana had “expressly waived her right” to alimony through their 1992 marriage contract.
Tatiana later alleged in a filing that she signed the post-nuptial agreement “under duress and coercion” and that on the eve of their “long-planned religious wedding ceremony and party,” Pino “ambushed” her with the agreement.
In 1995, Pino founded and chaired Century Partners Group, which its website describes as the “largest Hispanic-owned homebuilder in the country.”
The group boasts of having acquired, developed and/or managed more than 50 multifamily and condominium communities representing more than 15,000 homes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Pino, who had good connections in the community, was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Commission in 2000.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in complete confidentiality, on 116 123 (UK and Ireland), email jo@samaritans.org or visit the Samaritans website to find the contact details of your nearest branch. I
If you are based in the United States and you or someone you know needs mental health support right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline online chat. This is a free, confidential helpline available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
