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Real estate mogul George Pino ordered to surrender in vessel homicide case

MIAMI – Prominent real estate broker George Pino appeared in court Wednesday via Zoom after being charged with felony vessel homicide related to a boating accident that claimed the life of a young passenger more than two years ago.

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He was ordered to surrender by Nov. 21 by a Miami-Dade County judge.

Authorities said Pino, then 52, was behind the wheel of a 29-foot Robalo boat in the early evening hours of Sept. 4 when he lost control and slammed it into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, killing Lucy Fernandez and seriously injuring 17-year-old Katerina Puig and another victim whose name has not been disclosed.

At the time, Pino, his teenage daughter, her friends, and his wife were celebrating a birthday on the water, according to investigators.

Pino told detectives he lost control of the vessel after hitting a wave, stating, “The wheel turned a little bit and I lost full control and I think I turned.”

Pino initially faced three second-degree misdemeanor charges, but prosecutors have since escalated the charge to felony vessel homicide.

While investigators reported they did not believe alcohol was a factor, Pino declined a voluntary blood draw after admitting to drinking two beers earlier in the evening.

In May, a judge ordered Pino’s wife to pay $16 million to Puig’s family as part of a lawsuit settlement.

If found guilty, Pino could face up to 15 years in prison.


About the Authors
Joseph Ojo headshot

Joseph Ojo joined Local 10 in April 2021. Born and raised in New York City, he previously worked in Buffalo, North Dakota, Fort Myers and Baltimore.

Ryan Mackey headshot

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida since 1994.

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