Key facts
- George Pino was acquitted of manslaughter and felony vessel homicide charges.
- The charges stemmed from a 2022 boat crash that killed Luciana Fernandez and injured Katerina Puig.
- Investigators found 61 empty alcohol bottles and cans on the boat.
- Pino denied impairment or speeding and was not breath tested.
- Puig's family criticized the investigation and verdict.
- Pino's defense argued the incident was a tragic accident, not a crime.
A Miami jury found prominent Florida real estate broker George Pino not guilty of manslaughter and felony vessel homicide on Monday evening. The verdict concluded a two-week trial concerning a fatal boat crash on September 4, 2022, during a birthday party hosted by Pino and his wife for their daughter. The collision with a steel channel marker in Biscayne Bay resulted in the death of 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez and severe head injuries that left Katerina Puig, now 21, permanently disabled.
Investigators discovered 61 empty alcohol bottles and cans on the capsized vessel. However, Pino, who denied being impaired or speeding, was not subjected to a breath test. The Puig family, in a statement, expressed profound disagreement with the verdict, criticizing the investigation and stating their belief that Pino should have been held accountable for reckless operation.
Pino's lawyer, Howard Srebnick, stated that the verdict was correct and that the incident was a tragic accident, not a crime. He cited eyewitness testimony indicating Pino showed no signs of impairment and acted to protect passengers after the accident. Several friends of Fernandez and Puig testified that they had been drinking underage and felt 'buzzed.' Pino himself told investigators he had only consumed two beers and was sober.
Following initial misdemeanor charges of careless boating, felony charges were later upgraded based on new evidence. The Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission, which investigated the crash, subsequently altered several policies after facing criticism for its handling of the case, including the failure to test Pino for sobriety and the deletion of bodycam footage. Civil suits filed by the Puig family led to a $16 million settlement from Cecilia Pino for Katerina's ongoing medical care, and a separate, undisclosed settlement with George Pino.
Miami-Dade county state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle expressed sympathy for all affected parties, acknowledging that the verdict offered no comfort to the Fernandez and Puig families and stating that Mr. Pino must live with his actions while the families grapple with the consequences.