George Pino, a well-known Miami real estate broker, has been charged with vessel homicide following a 2022 boat crash that killed a teenager and injured others. The charge was filed by Miami-Dade prosecutors yesterday based on new witness testimony. If convicted, Pino could face up to 15 years in prison, according to Local 10 News.
On the evening of September 4, 2022, George Pino was driving a 29-foot Robalo boat with 14 passengers when he crashed into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key. The accident resulted in the death of 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez and seriously injured two others, including Katerina Puig. Officials found multiple empty alcohol containers on the boat but initially did not suspect alcohol was involved. Pino declined a voluntary blood test, and officers concluded he was not intoxicated after he threw several passengers, many of whom were teenage girls, into the water.
The initial charges against Pino were three misdemeanors for careless boating, but a shift in the case occurred when a new key witness stepped forward. According to the Miami New Times, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighter Matthew Smiley observed signs of intoxication in Pino at the scene. His testimony has been pivotal in the upgrading of charges to vessel homicide.
Joel Denaro, the attorney for the Fernandez family, noted that the increase in witness testimony has been crucial for the prosecution. "As time passed and more witnesses came forward, I think that helped the state gather the evidence needed to pursue a reckless homicide charge rather than careless," Denaro said, according to Local 10. In response, Pino's attorney expressed disappointment with the decision, stating, "Officers on the scene of the crash determined that Pino was not intoxicated; Pino did not exceed any posted speed limit. This was an accident, not a crime, much less a felony."
A judge previously ordered Pino’s wife to pay $16 million in a lawsuit settlement to Puig’s family in May. Despite the ongoing litigation and upgraded charges, a first hearing for the homicide case has yet to be scheduled, and the investigation remains active as prosecutors continue their pursuit of justice in this complex case.
