The story of Sergio Pino, a wealthy Miami developer, took a shocking and tragic turn last July when he took his own life just moments before FBI agents could arrest him at his Coral Gables mansion. But his death didn’t erase the dark and twisted plot he allegedly orchestrated — a scheme to kill his estranged wife, Tatiana Pino, amid a bitter divorce battle over millions of dollars. And now, the people he reportedly hired to carry out the plan are facing justice.
Nine men are in federal custody, accused of being part of this elaborate murder-for-hire conspiracy. Their charges range from stalking and arson to plotting murder — and they’re looking at potential sentences from 10 years to life in prison. As their Miami trial approaches, lawyers are in talks with prosecutors about possible plea deals, which could mean lighter sentences for some of the accused.
The case against these men is massive, with thousands of pages of evidence and mountains of data from their electronic devices. Attorney Paul Donnelly, who represents one of the accused with a minor role, believes most of the defendants will take plea deals rather than face trial — except for those at the top of the conspiracy. Meanwhile, lawyer Humberto Dominguez represents one of the key figures who’s already cooperating with the FBI. He’s hopeful his client’s cooperation will lead to a quicker resolution.
Sergio Pino, the former CEO of Century Homebuilders Group, was 67 years old when he died by suicide on July 16, just as federal agents arrived at his luxurious waterfront home to arrest him. If he had lived, he would have been the lead defendant in the case — accused of masterminding the entire plot to eliminate his wife.
The scheme, according to court documents, unfolded in two parts. In the first phase, Pino allegedly hired a handyman from his yacht crew, Bayron Bennett, who then assembled a team of three other men — Michael Jose Dulfo, Jerren Keith Howard, and Edner Etienne — to threaten and attack Tatiana. Their intimidation tactics escalated in 2023, starting with bizarre incidents like ramming a Home Depot flatbed truck into her car and setting her sister’s vehicles on fire.
The second phase of the plan took a more sinister turn. Pino reportedly enlisted Fausto Villar, a roofer working on his home, who then brought in his former prison buddy Averey Bivins. Bivins, in turn, recruited more help to carry out the murder plot. But the whole plan fell apart when Bivins flipped on Villar and started cooperating with the FBI.
The FBI’s investigation uncovered chilling details. In one attempt on June 23, 2023, Tatiana Pino was targeted outside her Pinecrest home after attending church. A gunman named Vernon Green allegedly ran toward her with a weapon, sending her fleeing in terror. During the chaos, her adult daughter also had a gun pointed at her face before the attacker sped away.
As federal agents pieced together the conspiracy, they found evidence of even earlier attempts on Tatiana’s life. Between 2019 and 2024, she was allegedly poisoned multiple times with dangerous substances like fentanyl, cyanide, and arsenic. In one terrifying incident, she nearly died from a fentanyl overdose in early 2022 at their shared home.
The FBI’s case also revealed the financial motive behind Pino’s actions. At the time of his death, the couple’s divorce battle was still raging, with Tatiana demanding a fair share of their joint personal and business assets, valued in the tens of millions of dollars. Court documents suggest Pino was willing to pay $150,000 upfront — and another $150,000 if the murder went off without a hitch — just to avoid splitting his fortune.
With Sergio Pino gone, his alleged network of hired attackers now faces the consequences of this chilling and twisted plot. As their trial date moves closer, the pursuit of justice for Tatiana Pino continues.
