Sergio Pino’s widow, Tatiana Pino, and their daughters have filed a lawsuit against Nancy Pastor, Pino’s longtime girlfriend, and others over what they allege were fraudulent property transfers related to the Century Midtown development in Doral. The complaint was submitted last week in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.
Sergio Pino, founder of Coral Gables-based Century Homebuilders Group, died by suicide in July 2024 as FBI agents prepared to search his home and arrest him for allegedly attempting to murder his wife. At the time of his death, he and Tatiana were involved in a contentious divorce.
The lawsuit names Pastor, Century Midtown Club and Fitness Center LLC, attorney Eugenio Duarte, and former CFO Joseline Pereira as defendants. According to court documents, the dispute centers on trust and lease agreements drafted or changed by Duarte in March and July 2024 regarding Century Midtown—a mixed-use project with condos, apartments, and a clubhouse.
“In July 2024 as Sergio Pino’s multi-year efforts to kill Tatiana, his joint partner/owner by the entireties of CHG, failed, and with the FBI and the police closing in, certain documents related to the collateralized clubhouse were purportedly executed by Sergio without the consent of the bank, his project partners, Tatiana, or those he sought to transfer control to all of his interests in Century Fitness and the Clubhouse, among other things,” according to the complaint.
The legal action claims that these documents—including a 99-year lease and two trusts—were likely invalid and intended for Pastor’s benefit. The suit describes these actions as “criminal, fraudulent, intentional and otherwise wrongful.”
Michael Schlesinger, attorney for Pastor, said in a statement to The Real Deal that Pastor only received copies of the trusts after Pino’s death. He added: “Pastor’s successful efforts in the sales and management of Sergio Pino projects led to Mr. Pino and his companies profiting by millions” and that she held management roles due to her experience.
“To set the record straight,” Schlesinger continued. “For over the past decade that Ms. Pastor was affiliated with Mr. Pino’s businesses and ventures, she never witnessed Ms. [Tatiana] Pino involved in any business transaction until she took over after his untimely death. Ms. Pastor has never done anything illegal and has always been ethical and transparent in all Estate matters.”
According to court filings cited by Tatiana Pino’s team, one trust document dated March 11 was actually created on March 13—around when federal authorities learned about Sergio’s alleged plot against Tatiana—and another trust was signed on July 15, just one day before Sergio’s death.
The complaint states that Pereira instructed Duarte to draft a long-term lease for Century Midtown’s clubhouse. In an email included as evidence Duarte wrote: “Each transfer, assignment, appointment etc., can potentially alter the relationship with third parties (or even require the consent of third parties) … I do not want to question any decisions but I am concerned that some of these changes are not needed…they may bring detrimental consequences.”
Duarte did not immediately respond for comment.
Ownership issues at three addresses associated with Century Midtown have complicated attempts to sell or refinance another property called Century Town Center; lenders reportedly found current partners unacceptable guarantors for refinancing purposes. As a result CBRE has been unable so far to secure refinancing deals or buyers for this property.
