Miami developer Sergio Pino confirmed dead amid FBI activity at his home

Developer Sergio Pino died by suicide after FBI agents arrived at his Cocoplum home early Tuesday amid an investigation related to threats made against his estranged wife, Tatiana Pino.

In the morning, FBI agents had descended on the neighborhood for the purpose of “conducting court ordered law enforcement activity,” according to an agency spokesperson. Their return visit occurred weeks after the FBI raided Pino’s waterfront home in the posh Coral Gables neighborhood as authorities investigated his possible connection to assaults against Tatiana Pino and her relatives that led to the arrests of four men, including a household employee of Sergio Pino.

In a statement that was critical of the FBI’s actions Tuesday afternoon, Pino’s criminal defense attorney confirmed that the prominent home builder, who was 67, took his own life.

“The level of law enforcement activity at his residence was unprecedented and unnecessary, especially since we had offered to surrender him, should that have become necessary,” said lawyer Sam Rabin. “Today’s events mark a very tragic ending to an investigation that we were confident we could successfully defend. There were many rumors and allegations, but what was lacking was evidence.”

Pino, the founder of Century Homebuilders Group and a high-profile Miami-Dade County businessman and political donor for decades, had denied any involvement in the incidents, which happened during the couple’s ongoing divorce proceedings.

The striking scene unfolded Tuesday morning as FBI agents returned to the house. Coral Gables police cruisers blocked off the way to the home, where the couple once lived together in a waterfront home that remained Sergio Pino’s residence. A series of loud bangs could be heard from about a block away, beginning at 9:30 a.m., about every 15 minutes. Two helicopters hovered overhead at the waterfront estate, near the Cocoplum Yacht Club.

Around 10 a.m., Coral Gables Fire Rescue arrived with lights on. Thirty minutes later, an ambulance left with lights on but no siren. Around 11:30 a.m., a van from the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s office arrived in the area.

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s office later confirmed that Pino died inside his home on Isla Dorada Boulevard around 10:20 a.m.

The residence was not visible from the area blocked off by law enforcement on Tuesday morning.

A person in the neighborhood told the Miami Herald that law enforcement surrounding the house appeared calm, with weapons pointed at the ground. The person said that at one point they heard police say over the megaphone that they would breach the front door, though it is unclear if that has happened.

Tatiana Pino’s lawyer, Raymond Rafool, declined to comment. “Under the circumstances, we are not commenting at this time,” he said Tuesday afternoon.

Four Miami-Dade men, including an employee of Sergio Pino’s, were arrested earlier this year in connection with threats and attacks against Tatiana Pino and her sister. Bayron Bennett, who worked putting together food and beverage service on Sergio Pino’s yacht, is accused of recruiting Michael Dulfo, Edner Etienne and Jerren Howard to carry out a hit-and-run at Tatiana Pino’s residence and multiple arsons at her sister’s residence. The four men have pleaded not guilty.

A rented Home Depot trailer rammed into Tatiana Pino’s car as she pulled into her driveway after a day of divorce proceedings in August 2023. Three vehicles have been set ablaze in two separate arsons at Tatiana Pino’s sister’s residence.

READ THE DOCUMENTS: FBI affidavits detail alleged threats against developer’s wife

In a motion filed on July 5, Tatiana Pino’s divorce attorney said there had been another “ attempt on Ms. Pino’s life just weeks ago at her home.” Pinecrest police have refused to release the report from that incident because it is the subject of an ongoing federal investigation.

In court testimony, Tatiana Pino said she blamed health problems on what she believed was a poisoning attempt by her husband. He denied that allegation, too.

Sergio Pino testified that he had also received threats throughout the divorce proceedings.

A month after Tatiana Pino filed for divorce, Sergio Pino said someone shot at his Coral Gables home . He said he had received threatening phone calls around that time.

In September 2023, shortly after the hit-and-run at Tatiana Pino’s residence, Sergio Pino said someone set his car on fire. About a year before that, he testified, another car of his was vandalized.