A real estate titan accused of poisoning his wife has been found dead in his million-dollar mansion.
Developer Sergio Pino, 67, died from an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” during an FBI raid on his Florida home, law enforcement officials said.
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The FBI raided Pino’s $8 million home Tuesday morning in connection with an “ongoing murder-for-hire investigation” after his ex-wife, Tatiana, said he poisoned her “several times” with fentanyl.
The charges against Pino in the former couple’s divorce proceedings also included allegations of arson and stalking — but he had not yet been charged with any crimes.
Pino founded the Miami-Dade-based real estate company Century Homebuilders Group.
FBI officials said the tycoon was found dead of an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” in an upstairs bedroom of his home in Coral Gates, which is about five miles from Miami.
Pino’s lawyer, Sam Rabin, confirmed to The US Sun that he died by suicide.
“Sergio Pino took his own life today,” Rabin said in a statement criticizing authorities’ handling of the operation.
“The level of police activity at his residence was unprecedented and unnecessary, especially as we offered to hand him over if necessary.
“Today’s events mark a very tragic end to an investigation that we were confident we could successfully defend.
“There were a lot of rumors and allegations, but what was missing was proof.”
ABC Affiliate WPLG reported that agents collected electronics, safes and three boxes of documents in the house.
Local 10 reportedly heard the sound of “periodic flash-bangs” as the SWAT team attack continued.
Authorities conducted another raid in connection with the murder-for-hire investigation that morning at 9720 Bel Air Drive in Miami, where they made an arrest.
“The subject was arrested without incident and a search of that location was conducted,” authorities said in a statement, adding that no additional information about the location will be released at this time.
Four people have already been arrested in a “persecution conspiracy” related to the case, according to court documents.
FBI statement on the incident
FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri shared the following statement regarding Tuesday’s incident.
“This morning, the FBI conducted search and arrest operations at two locations in Miami-Dade County that are linked to an ongoing murder-for-hire investigation beginning in the fall of 2023,” Veltri said.
“The first operation was at 9720 Bel Aire Drive, in Miami. The subject was arrested without incident and a search of that location was conducted. No additional information about this location will be released at this time.
“The second location was at 142 Isla Dorada Boulevard in Coral Gables, where the subject, Sergio Pino, was discovered by the FBI inside the residence, deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Upon arrival, members of the FBI Miami SWAT team attempted to attract the attention of any occupants of the residence.
“When there was no response, the SWAT team entered the residence and conducted a methodical search to locate the subject. Eventually, Mr. Pino was discovered alone in an upstairs bedroom.
“The final determination of the cause of death will come from the medical examiner’s office.
“I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida for their close cooperation and diligence during this investigation.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, no additional information will be released at this time,” the statement concluded.
Bayron Bennett, Sergio’s former employee, was one of the men arrested. An FBI affidavit says Bennett worked on the Pinos’ yacht.
Court documents allege that Bennett was involved in a hit-and-run outside Tatiana’s home in August 2023.
Tatiana filed for divorce from Sergio in April 2022, after 32 years of marriage.
She said in divorce documents that she began having health problems around 2019 or 2020.
Tatiana’s attorney, Raymond J. Rafool, told WPLG that tests at that time revealed “bath salts in her medications and fentanyl in her system.”
Rafool claimed that the only known suspect in the case was Sergio.
“In this already complex divorce, we had to face terrorism and attacks on Tatiana’s life. It’s really terrible,” Rafool told WPLG on Tuesday.
“Fortunately, the FBI is involved and working hard to keep Tatiana safe and bring those responsible to justice.”
US Sun has reached out to Tatiana’s attorney for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, please call or text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.orgor text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
