Miami Developer Found Not Guilty in Fatal Boat Crash

Miami real estate developer George Pino has been acquitted of charges related to a boat crash that occurred off Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay in September 2022. The incident resulted in the death of a teenager and left another with permanent disabilities.

Pino, age 55, faced charges of second-degree manslaughter and vessel homicide. The charges were related to the crash that took the life of 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez and caused significant injuries to Katy Puig, who is now 21. The verdict, reached after an emotional eight-day trial, was delivered on Monday.

During the trial, prosecutors claimed Pino acted recklessly by crashing his boat into a channel marker during the Labor Day weekend of 2022. In contrast, the defense argued the crash was an unfortunate accident.

“We are grateful to the jurors for their careful consideration of the evidence and for reaching a just verdict,” stated lead defense attorney Howard Srebnick. “From the outset, we maintained that the events were a tragic accident, not a crime.” Srebnick emphasized there was no evidence showing Pino was impaired or reckless during the incident.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle expressed disappointment with the verdict. She stated that although the community recognizes the tragedy, her team believed Pino’s actions were criminally reckless.

The accident happened on September 4, 2022, during a birthday celebration for Pino’s daughter. As Pino piloted their 29-foot boat back to the dock, it collided with a channel marker. Pino reported that a passing boat created a wake, prompting him to check on the teenagers on board. This distraction led to the collision.

The crash resulted in all 14 passengers being thrown into the water. Eleven were injured, with six requiring hospital treatment. Tragically, Fernandez succumbed to her injuries, and Puig sustained a traumatic brain injury.