A Miami real estate tycoon, Sergio Pino, who was suspected of attempting to kill his estranged wife, was found dead at his $8 million waterfront mansion as FBI agents were planning to arrest him. Pino’s attorneys claimed that his death was a result of the aggressive response from federal law enforcement. They denied the allegations that he conspired to harm his wife, even though his daughter made a frantic 911 call reporting a hitman at her mother’s house.
The investigation into Pino began in July 2022, with authorities alleging that he had been involved in multiple attempts to kill his wife since 2019. The attacks included poisoning, arson, a hit-and-run, and two gun-related incidents. Pino and his wife, Tatiana, had been going through a contentious divorce since April 2022, with Tatiana accusing Pino of poisoning her with fentanyl. She claimed that he tampered with her prescribed medication, leading to serious health issues.
After Tatiana’s hospitalization and recovery, the attacks against her escalated, involving multiple individuals hired by Pino. The first crew of alleged hitmen was arrested on suspicion of stalking, arson, and racketeering. They were accused of supplying the fentanyl used to poison Tatiana and committing arson attacks at her sister’s house. Another crew was assembled by Pino to carry out further attacks, which led to their arrest on charges of stalking and using a firearm in a violent crime.
Pino’s death occurred as law enforcement was closing in on him, with allegations of him being involved in orchestrating these attacks on his wife. His attorney criticized the use of force by authorities, while U.S. attorney Lapointe defended their actions, emphasizing the risk Pino posed to his wife’s life. The middleman, Fausto Rafael Villar, was also arrested on charges of murder for hire and stalking.
Despite the tragic events, authorities believe that Tatiana Pino is now safe and no longer in danger. She has taken over the company that her husband founded and is reportedly doing well. The investigation into the case is ongoing, with more details expected to emerge as the legal proceedings continue.
