Medical examiner arrives at developer Sergio Pino’s street after FBI activity, loud bangs
A striking scene unfolded Tuesday morning in Coral Gables’ tony Cocoplum neighborhood as FBI agents returned to the home of developer Sergio Pino, who is being investigated in relation to threats made against his estranged wife, Tatiana Pino.
Pino’s house and office were raided by the FBI in late June. Early Tuesday, authorities returned to the home.
Around 10 a.m., Coral Gables Fire Rescue arrived with lights on. Thirty minutes later, an ambulance left with lights on but no siren. Around 11:30 a.m., a van from the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s office arrived in the area.
Earlier, a series of loud bangs could be heard from about a block away, beginning at 9:30 a.m., about every 15 minutes. Two helicopters hovered overhead at the waterfront estate, near the Cocoplum Yacht Club.
A Coral Gables police cruiser blocked the way to a taped-off Isla Dorada Boulevard, where the couple once lived together in a waterfront home that remains Sergio Pino’s residence. FBI agents were visible in the distance. The FBI confirmed that agents were in the area “conducting court ordered law enforcement activity” but provided no further details.
The residence was not visible from the area blocked off by law enforcement.
A person in the neighborhood told the Miami Herald that law enforcement surrounding the house appeared calm, with weapons pointed at the ground. The person said that at one point they heard police say over the megaphone that they would breach the front door, though it is unclear if that has happened.
Sergio Pino’s defense attorney, Sam Rabin, told the Herald he was at the scene Tuesday morning trying to figure out what was happening. He declined to comment further.
Sergio Pino has denied allegations that he hired men to threaten his wife during an ongoing divorce.
Four Miami-Dade men, including an employee of Sergio Pino’s, were arrested earlier this year in connection with threats and attacks against Tatiana Pino and her sister. Bayron Bennett, who worked putting together food and beverage service on Sergio Pino’s yacht, is accused of recruiting Michael Dulfo, Edner Etienne and Jerren Howard to carry out a hit-and-run at Tatiana Pino’s residence and multiple arsons at her sister’s residence. The four men have pleaded not guilty.
A rented Home Depot trailer rammed into Tatiana Pino’s car as she pulled into her driveway after a day of divorce proceedings in August 2023. Three vehicles have been set ablaze in two separate arsons at Tatiana Pino’s sister’s residence.
READ THE DOCUMENTS: FBI affidavits detail alleged threats against developer’s wife
In a motion filed on July 5, Tatiana Pino’s divorce attorney said there had been another “attempt on Ms. Pino’s life just weeks ago at her home.” Pinecrest police have refused to release the report from that incident because it is the subject of an ongoing federal investigation.
In court testimony, Tatiana Pino said she blamed health problems on what she believed was a poisoning attempt by her husband. He has denied that allegation, too.
Sergio Pino testified that he has also received threats throughout the divorce proceedings.
A month after Tatiana Pino filed for divorce, Sergio Pino said someone shot at his Coral Gables home. He said he had received threatening phone calls around that time.
In September 2023, shortly after the hit-and-run at Tatiana Pino’s residence, Sergio Pino said someone set his car on fire. About a year before that, he testified, another car of his was vandalized.
Miami Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report.
