The suicide of renowned Cuban-American developer Sergio Pino has unleashed a complex legal battle between his widow, Tatiana Pino, and his brother, Carlos Pino, over an inheritance at stake that amounts to around 153 million dollars.
A hearing held this Friday in a Miami court sought to clear the way for a possible agreement between the parties.
Pino had appointed his brother Carlos as the personal representative of his estate months before his death, a decision that has been challenged by the widow of the real estate entrepreneur, who has requested the court to prevent Carlos from taking control of his late brother's assets, according to Telemundo 51.
In his will, Sergio Pino expressed his wish for his brother Carlos to manage his assets, even granting him the authority to sell properties and create a trust for the benefit of his four daughters, two from his marriage to Tatiana and two from a previous relationship.
Tatiana was not included as a beneficiary of the inheritance, which has been a central point of contention since her death.
Another source of tension is Homebuilders Group, the company that Sergio Pino founded and turned into one of the most successful in the sector.
Tatiana Pino's lawyers argue that, after her husband's death, she became the sole owner of the company.
However, Carlos Pino's legal representatives argue that Tatiana's involvement in the company would harm both its value and its operations.
For the moment, a judge has decided to temporarily block any attempt by Carlos Pino to take control of his brother's business affairs while the possibility of fraudulent transfers of millions of dollars is investigated.
Irregularities that Tatiana's lawyers have suggested involve the direct participation of Carlos, an accusation he has vehemently denied.
Tatiana Pino has also requested that the will be annulled, arguing that it was drafted under questionable circumstances.
During the hearing, it was mentioned that Sergio Pino may have been suffering from a "mental illness condition," a "mad delusion" that led him to make irrational decisions in the last months of his life, including hiring hitmen to kill his wife and his subsequent suicide.
Finally, the judge in charge of the case made the decision that the parties involved agree to appoint a neutral curator or legal representative before August 16th, who will facilitate a meeting between both parties to see if they can reach an agreement.
That representative will have the difficult task of mediating between both parties in an attempt to reach an agreement, thereby avoiding a prolonged and costly legal battle.
At the exit of the hearing, neither Tatiana Pino -who attended with her two daughters- nor Carlos Pino made statements to the press.
Presumed plot by the Cuban businessman Sergio Pino to murder his wife
On July 17, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Florida Attorney General's office revealed the details of the alleged plot orchestrated by Sergio Pino to murder his wife amid a tumultuous divorce process that she had requested since April 2022.
Federal Prosecutor Markenzy Lapointe revealed the details of the investigation in a press conference, which culminated in the suicide of Sergio Pino on the morning of July 16 in his oceanfront mansion in Coral Gables, when the FBI was attempting to execute a search warrant at the residence and serve him with a court order related to allegations of attempted murder against his wife.
Lapointe revealed that the plan unfolded over the course of more than two years and said that Pino sought to eliminate his wife before the divorce became final, in order to retain his entire fortune.
According to Lapointe, Pino hired two different teams to carry out the murder of his wife. A total of nine people have been arrested in connection with the case, and four of them have already been formally charged.
In the second group, which had been transferred money for their work, is Fausto Villar, a convicted criminal who worked as a roofer for Pino and who has already been charged. Another implicated individual is Bayron Bennent, an assistant on a yacht owned by Pino, who is identified as the alleged responsible party for obtaining fentanyl that Pino would have used to try to poison his wife.
Reports indicate that one of the teams was instructed to carry out the murder before the next divorce hearing, with the promise of a $150,000 bonus if they succeeded in preventing the crime from being linked to the real estate entrepreneur.
The various failed methods used by the conspirators included an attempted poisoning with fentanyl, various forms of harassment, and a failed attempt to run over someone with a rented van.
The investigation, which involved the FBI and local police, uncovered that Pino had agreed to pay the exorbitant sum of $300,000 - delivered in two parts - for the murder of his wife. Authorities stated that there was evidence that part of the money was transferred, although they did not disclose details about the senders or recipients.
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