Authorities are investigating an alleged plot by a Miami millionaire to kill his estranged wife over several years by hiring a hitman and poisoning her with fentanyl, police said.
Pinecrest Police Chief Jason Cohen told FOX News Digital: “I've been in law enforcement for 27 years, and something like this…sounds like a scene out of a Hollywood movie. It's unfortunate. However, it was a real event.”
On June 23, Alessandra Pino, 26, called 911 and said someone pointed a gun at her as her mother pulled into her driveway.
“Oh my god, my mom is here,” she told the operator. According to the Miami Herald. “They could have shot her.”
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Sergio Pino and Tatiana Pino smile in an undated photo. Sergio allegedly hired hitmen several times to kill his wife. (Elaine Palladino Photo)
The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office say the armed ambush was part of a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by Alessandra's father, Miami developer Sergio Pino, against his estranged wife, Tatiana Pino. said at a press conference last month.
”[Tatiana] “She came home from her morning errands, and as she pulled into her driveway, a man pulled up and got out of the car with a firearm,” Cohen said. This gunman clearly wasn't there for his daughter. Because, as I understand it, he had the ability to shoot his daughter if he wanted to, and he didn't. ”
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To get her daughter's attention, Tatyana drove her car into the backyard and honked her horn to escape her life. According to the indictment, the man pointed a gun at the girl who came out, but did not fire, and in the end no one was harmed.
“As officers began to respond, the man ended up fleeing, but was unable to do what we believe was the case that day,” Cohen explained. “We think he was probably there to take her life, Tatiana's life at that point.”
The gunman who was later charged in the June 23 attack was Vernon Green, 53.
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Sergio Pino, who federal investigators say tried to kill his estranged wife, Tatiana Pino, several times, was found dead of a suicide in his home in July. (Online obituary)
The June incident was not the first time Tatiana Pino was targeted. Federal authorities say she was repeatedly stalked and attempted to be poisoned by suspects allegedly hired by her husband.
A year ago, someone crashed a truck they had rented from a hardware store into an SUV in the same driveway.
“When she got home from a day out and pulled into her driveway, a flatbed rental truck from a hardware store was waiting for her on the street. When she parked, it drove off, ramming into her car. ''Cohen said.
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Cohen added that Pinecrest Police Department responded and the department joined the investigation.
“This incident here has brought to our attention that it is likely that she was not just hit by someone on her way home,” he said. “We learned a lot of background about what was happening with Mrs. Pino, including accusations that her soon-to-be ex-husband was poisoned and drugged… I started to think it was just another piece of that big puzzle.”
In July, just weeks after Alessandra called 911, Sergio was found dead of suicide in his home. The FBI said at the time: The statement confirmed that Sergio is being investigated for a murder-for-hire plot. A Miami real estate developer shot himself in the bedroom of his waterfront Coral Gables mansion.
“I think he knew things were getting worse, and I think he probably thought he was going to be indicted for this,” Cohen told Fox News Digital. “In my opinion, this definitely says a lot about a guilty person, but that's just my law enforcement opinion as a 27-year veteran.”
Sergio Pino was a Miami developer who took his own life while investigating a murder case. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC image)
Green is just one of nine people allegedly involved in Pino's conspiracy. Six of them were charged with commissioned murder, and the rest were charged with stalking Tatiana and her family and being involved in the arson.
Byron Bennett, 33, Fausto Villar, 42, Avery Bivins, 36, Clementa Johnson, 47, Diori Bernard, 47, Jalen Keith Howard, 38, Michael Jose Dalfo, Tatiana Pino, 42, and Edner Etienne, 27, were each charged with “participating in a campaign of stalking, torture, and attempted murder.” Announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office In a statement. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
The plot to kill Tatiana Pino began as early as July 2022, U.S. Attorney Markenzie Lapointe said at a press conference, adding that the killers “also obtained fentanyl to assist in the murder of Pino's wife.” he added.
The Pinos couple had been married for more than 30 years, but Tatiana filed for divorce in April 2022 over suspicions that Sergio had poisoned her.
“Mrs. Pino had to die before the next divorce proceedings,” Ms. Lapointe said.
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Although Sergio is no longer alive, police continue to monitor Tatiana's home “at least several times a day” during the ongoing investigation, Cohen told Fox News Digital.
“We have what we call a watch list…an officer will just walk by and do an exterior search to make sure nothing is out of order,” Cohen said. “This situation will continue for some time because there are still a lot of variables that are open.”
Pino's criminal defense attorney criticized law enforcement in a statement on the day of his death.
“Sergio Pino took his own life today,” Sam Rabin said. “The level of law enforcement activity at his residence was unprecedented and unnecessary, especially as we had offered to extradite him if necessary. Today's events demonstrate that we It represents a very tragic end to an investigation that we were confident would be successfully defended. There were many rumors and suspicions, but what was missing was evidence.”
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Until his death, Pino denied any involvement in the incident against his estranged wife.
“We had a real victim. There was a poor woman in our city who was being targeted for murder,” Cohen told FOX News Digital. “With a little bit of luck and maybe a higher power, they didn't succeed because the opportunity was certainly there.”
