South Florida real estate mogul George Pino faces a new manslaughter charge in connection with a fatal 2022 boat crash that claimed the life of 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez and left another teen permanently disabled. The charge was added after testimony from surviving passengers, according to court documents. Pino was already facing charges related to vessel operation and safety equipment.
New Manslaughter Charge Filed
Pino, 54, has been charged with manslaughter, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, similar to the existing vessel homicide charge. This development comes nearly three years after the September 2022 incident where the 29-foot center console vessel Pino was operating struck a channel marker near Boca Chita Key. The impact ejected 14 individuals onboard, resulting in Fernandez’s death and severe injuries to Katerina “Katy” Puig, who now requires a wheelchair.
Key Takeaways
- George Pino, a prominent South Florida real estate developer, faces a new manslaughter charge.
- The charge is linked to a 2022 boat crash that killed a teenager and severely injured another.
- Testimony from surviving passengers reportedly led to the addition of the manslaughter charge.
- Pino was already facing charges including vessel homicide and operating a vessel with expired registration.
- Both manslaughter and vessel homicide charges carry a maximum of 15 years in prison.
- Investigators found numerous empty alcoholic bottles and cans on board the vessel, though alcohol was initially reported not to be a factor.
- Pino’s attorney claims the new charge is duplicative and unwarranted, asserting the incident was a tragic accident.
Investigation Details and Previous Charges
While initial reports from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) indicated that alcohol was not a factor in the crash, investigators later discovered a significant quantity of alcoholic beverages on board, including "61 empty alcoholic bottles and cans, 1 empty champagne bottle, and a half-consumed bottle of liquor." Pino was previously 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 of six months or longer.
Defense Statement
Pino’s attorney, Howard Srebnick, released a statement expressing his client’s position. He argued that the newly filed manslaughter charge, coming almost three years after the crash without new evidence, is duplicative of existing allegations. Srebnick stated that no passengers have described Pino operating the vessel negligently or recklessly, nor was he speeding or driving erratically. The defense plans to seek dismissal of the charge, asserting it is unwarranted and redundant, and unfairly portrays Pino in the public eye. They maintain that the incident was a tragic accident, not a crime.
FWC Body Camera Footage Controversy
In a separate but related issue, the FWC confirmed earlier this year that body camera footage from at least two officers involved in the case was deleted after exceeding its retention period. The FWC attributed this to the officers labeling the footage as "incidental" because they were not the lead investigators. An FWC spokesperson stated that the officers’ actions were within the existing policy, which is currently under revision.
Sources
- Charge added for South Florida real estate mogul George Pino in connection with fatal boat crash, WPLG Local 10.