Topline: George Pino was found not guilty of manslaughter, drawing criticism from the families of a deceased teenager and a permanently injured survivor.
Published: June 24, 2026 6:00 am ET
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George Pino (via Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service)
MIAMI, FL — A Miami-Dade County jury found real estate developer George Pino not guilty of manslaughter and vessel homicide following a trial centered on a 2022 boat crash that killed a 17-year-old girl and left another permanently disabled.
The six-member jury deliberated for roughly 90 minutes before delivering the verdict, which cleared the 55-year-old boat operator of all criminal charges. Pino faced up to 15 years in state prison if convicted of the felony counts.
The criminal charges stemmed from a Sept. 4, 2022, incident during a Labor Day weekend boating trip in Biscayne Bay. According to court records, Pino was piloting a 29-foot boat near Boca Chita Key when the vessel struck a steel channel marker, throwing all 14 passengers into the water.
As per Court TV, The collision killed Luciana Fernandez, a 17-year-old student. The crash also caused severe head injuries to Katerina Puig, who was 17 at the time and is now 21, leaving her with permanent physical and neurological disabilities that require continuous medical care.
The passengers on the vessel included 12 teenage girls who were celebrating the 18th birthday of Pino’s daughter. Law enforcement investigators later recovered 61 empty bottles and cans of alcohol from the capsized boat.
State prosecutors argued during the trial that Pino acted with culpable negligence by operating the vessel at an unsafe speed and failing to maintain a proper lookout. Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams stated during closing arguments that Pino was reckless and solely responsible for the path and speed of travel.
Defense attorneys argued that the collision was a tragic accident rather than a criminal action. Defense attorney Howard Srebnick said to ABC News that eyewitness testimony confirmed Pino did not show signs of impairment and did everything possible to assist the passengers after the impact.
Pino told investigators after the crash that he had consumed two beers and was sober. Authorities did not perform a breath test or obtain a blood sample from Pino on the day of the incident, a factor that later prompted changes in policy by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Following the reading of the verdict, the family of Luciana Fernandez released a statement acknowledging the decision but expressing hope that the public would not view the circumstances of her death as acceptable. The family stated that the tragedy remains a reminder of the consequences of thoughtless choices.
The parents of Katerina Puig expressed disagreement with the acquittal in a separate statement reported by the Miami Herald. Kathya and Rodolpho Puig stated that the investigation was flawed from the beginning and that Pino should have been held accountable for reckless operation.
Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement that her office pursued the charges based on the totality of Pino’s actions. Fernandez Rundle noted that the verdict brings no comfort to the affected families, who must continue to deal with the consequences of the event.
Pino originally faced three misdemeanor counts of careless boating before prosecutors upgraded the case to felony charges based on secondary evidence. Civil lawsuits filed by the Puig family previously resulted in a $16 million settlement with Pino’s wife to cover ongoing medical costs, alongside an undisclosed settlement with Pino.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Florida Real Estate Developer Cleared in Deadly 2022 Boat Crash
George Pino was found not guilty of manslaughter, drawing criticism from the families of a deceased teenager and a permanently injured survivor.
By Kate Byrd
Published: June 24, 2026 6:00 am ET
George Pino (via Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service)
MIAMI, FL — A Miami-Dade County jury found real estate developer George Pino not guilty of manslaughter and vessel homicide following a trial centered on a 2022 boat crash that killed a 17-year-old girl and left another permanently disabled.
The six-member jury deliberated for roughly 90 minutes before delivering the verdict, which cleared the 55-year-old boat operator of all criminal charges. Pino faced up to 15 years in state prison if convicted of the felony counts.
The criminal charges stemmed from a Sept. 4, 2022, incident during a Labor Day weekend boating trip in Biscayne Bay. According to court records, Pino was piloting a 29-foot boat near Boca Chita Key when the vessel struck a steel channel marker, throwing all 14 passengers into the water.
As per Court TV, The collision killed Luciana Fernandez, a 17-year-old student. The crash also caused severe head injuries to Katerina Puig, who was 17 at the time and is now 21, leaving her with permanent physical and neurological disabilities that require continuous medical care.
The passengers on the vessel included 12 teenage girls who were celebrating the 18th birthday of Pino’s daughter. Law enforcement investigators later recovered 61 empty bottles and cans of alcohol from the capsized boat.
State prosecutors argued during the trial that Pino acted with culpable negligence by operating the vessel at an unsafe speed and failing to maintain a proper lookout. Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams stated during closing arguments that Pino was reckless and solely responsible for the path and speed of travel.
Defense attorneys argued that the collision was a tragic accident rather than a criminal action. Defense attorney Howard Srebnick said to ABC News that eyewitness testimony confirmed Pino did not show signs of impairment and did everything possible to assist the passengers after the impact.
Pino told investigators after the crash that he had consumed two beers and was sober. Authorities did not perform a breath test or obtain a blood sample from Pino on the day of the incident, a factor that later prompted changes in policy by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Following the reading of the verdict, the family of Luciana Fernandez released a statement acknowledging the decision but expressing hope that the public would not view the circumstances of her death as acceptable. The family stated that the tragedy remains a reminder of the consequences of thoughtless choices.
The parents of Katerina Puig expressed disagreement with the acquittal in a separate statement reported by the Miami Herald. Kathya and Rodolpho Puig stated that the investigation was flawed from the beginning and that Pino should have been held accountable for reckless operation.
Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement that her office pursued the charges based on the totality of Pino’s actions. Fernandez Rundle noted that the verdict brings no comfort to the affected families, who must continue to deal with the consequences of the event.
Pino originally faced three misdemeanor counts of careless boating before prosecutors upgraded the case to felony charges based on secondary evidence. Civil lawsuits filed by the Puig family previously resulted in a $16 million settlement with Pino’s wife to cover ongoing medical costs, alongside an undisclosed settlement with Pino.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Florida Real Estate Developer Cleared in Deadly 2022 Boat Crash
George Pino was found not guilty of manslaughter, drawing criticism from the families of a deceased teenager and a permanently injured survivor.
By Kate Byrd
Published: June 24, 2026 6:00 am ET
George Pino (via Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service)
MIAMI, FL — A Miami-Dade County jury found real estate developer George Pino not guilty of manslaughter and vessel homicide following a trial centered on a 2022 boat crash that killed a 17-year-old girl and left another permanently disabled.
The six-member jury deliberated for roughly 90 minutes before delivering the verdict, which cleared the 55-year-old boat operator of all criminal charges. Pino faced up to 15 years in state prison if convicted of the felony counts.
The criminal charges stemmed from a Sept. 4, 2022, incident during a Labor Day weekend boating trip in Biscayne Bay. According to court records, Pino was piloting a 29-foot boat near Boca Chita Key when the vessel struck a steel channel marker, throwing all 14 passengers into the water.
As per Court TV, The collision killed Luciana Fernandez, a 17-year-old student. The crash also caused severe head injuries to Katerina Puig, who was 17 at the time and is now 21, leaving her with permanent physical and neurological disabilities that require continuous medical care.
The passengers on the vessel included 12 teenage girls who were celebrating the 18th birthday of Pino’s daughter. Law enforcement investigators later recovered 61 empty bottles and cans of alcohol from the capsized boat.
State prosecutors argued during the trial that Pino acted with culpable negligence by operating the vessel at an unsafe speed and failing to maintain a proper lookout. Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams stated during closing arguments that Pino was reckless and solely responsible for the path and speed of travel.
Defense attorneys argued that the collision was a tragic accident rather than a criminal action. Defense attorney Howard Srebnick said to ABC News that eyewitness testimony confirmed Pino did not show signs of impairment and did everything possible to assist the passengers after the impact.
Pino told investigators after the crash that he had consumed two beers and was sober. Authorities did not perform a breath test or obtain a blood sample from Pino on the day of the incident, a factor that later prompted changes in policy by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Following the reading of the verdict, the family of Luciana Fernandez released a statement acknowledging the decision but expressing hope that the public would not view the circumstances of her death as acceptable. The family stated that the tragedy remains a reminder of the consequences of thoughtless choices.
The parents of Katerina Puig expressed disagreement with the acquittal in a separate statement reported by the Miami Herald. Kathya and Rodolpho Puig stated that the investigation was flawed from the beginning and that Pino should have been held accountable for reckless operation.
Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement that her office pursued the charges based on the totality of Pino’s actions. Fernandez Rundle noted that the verdict brings no comfort to the affected families, who must continue to deal with the consequences of the event.
Pino originally faced three misdemeanor counts of careless boating before prosecutors upgraded the case to felony charges based on secondary evidence. Civil lawsuits filed by the Puig family previously resulted in a $16 million settlement with Pino’s wife to cover ongoing medical costs, alongside an undisclosed settlement with Pino.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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