MIAMI — A new manslaughter charge was filed for South Florida real estate mogul George Pino Thursday in connection with a September 2022 boat crash that killed a teenage girl and permanently disabled another, court documents show.
Pino, 54, was already charged with vessel homicide/operating in a reckless manner, operating a vessel without required U.S. Coast Guard safety gear and operating a vessel with an expired registration six months or longer.
The Miami Herald was the first to report on the development, citing a source who disclosed that the testimony of the girls who were onboard the boat who survived led to the charge being added.
Both the manslaughter and vessel homicide charge each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
In September 2022, the 29-foot center console Pino was operating ran into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, tossing the 14 on board overboard, killing 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez, and severely wounding Katerina “Katy” Puig, who now uses a wheelchair.
At the time, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said alcohol was not a factor, but then it was revealed investigators found “61 empty alcoholic bottles and cans, 1 empty champagne bottle, and a half-consumed bottle of liquor” on board.
Earlier this year, the FWC released a statement to Local 10 News, confirming that officer-worn body camera video from at least two officers was deleted after a set retention period because of how the officers labeled it, categorizing them as “incidental” because they were not the lead officers in the case.
Not addressing any violations directly, an FWC spokesperson said, “Based on our review, their actions were within the bounds of the policy as it is currently written. The policy is now under revision.”
Pino’s attorney, Howard Srebnick released the following statement Friday to Local 10 News on the added charge.
“The newly-filed charge—nearly three years after the crash and no additional evidence to support it—is duplicative of existing allegations. None of passengers on the boat have described Mr. Pino as having operated the vessel negligently, much less recklessly. He was not speeding nor driving erratically. We will move to dismiss this unwarranted, redundant accusation that does not bring clarity or justice; it only deepens public misunderstanding, fuels a false narrative that ignores the facts, and unfairly portrays Mr. Pino in the court of public opinion. As we have said all along, this was a tragic accident, not a crime.”
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
