A driver convicted of vehicular homicide in a 2022 crash in North Bay Village that claimed the lives of a mother and her two young daughters was sentenced to decades behind bars on Friday.
Julius Bernstein, 27, was sentenced to 45 years in state prison followed by 10 years of probation.
Miami-Dade Corrections
Miami-Dade Corrections
Julius Bernstein
A jury in September found Bernstein guilty of three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death in the June 27, 2022 crash.
The crash happened on the 79th Street Causeway when a Dodge Charger Bernstein was allegedly driving slammed into the family’s car, sparking an explosion.
Cynthia Orsatelliz and her daughters, Sofia and Maria, were killed.
Cynthia Orsatelliz and her daughters, Sofia and Maria
“I think about my family every single day. Every single moment. I can’t remember not one single day that I don’t cry,” said Samir Saidi, Orsatelliz’s husband, during Friday’s sentencing hearing.
Prosecutors said Bernstein was speeding at nearly 100 mph in a 30 mph zone when he slammed into the family’s car. They added that Bernstein fled the scene as the victims burned.
At one point, he allegedly tried knocking on a local resident’s home and offered them money and a gold chain if they let them inside. The residents refused, but Bernstein was able to get away. He was eventually captured in North Carolina.
“This was a mother and 2 girls who had their whole lives ahead of them and because of a decision he made to drive that muscle car like a bat out of hell he reduced them into smoldering charred individuals that couldn’t be identified,” said Laura Adams during the 2025 trial.
Bernstein has denied being the driver, and during the trial, Bernstein’s defense team said prosecutors couldn’t prove he was behind the wheel that night. Instead, they pointed to the mothers blood alcohol level, which was nearly two and a half times the legal limit, according to the defense.
On Friday, Judge Zachary James mentioned a presentencing report where Bernstein had mentioned he still maintained his innocence and once again denied being the driver. Bernstein also mentioned in the report that he felt remorse for the children that were killed, but not the mother.
When he was given the chance to speak in court during his sentencing, Berstein apologized to the victims’ families, who were emotional.
Meanwhile, Saidi told the judge he wasn’t able to forgive Bernstein because his family did not die of natural causes or an act of God.
“I cannot have forgiveness for this individual, I can’t because what happened, this is not something that can ever replaced,” Saidi said.
Adams asked for life in prison and for Bernstein to be sentenced as a habitual offender since he is a convicted felon. In 2023, according to records, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for charges including fleeing from police, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident-causing property damage, and reckless driving.
Defense attorneys had asked the judge to consider Bernstein’s mental health in sentencing, claiming their client had several issues with comprehension and had a low IQ.
At the end of Friday’s hearing, James sentenced Bernstein to 45 years in state prison after finding he was not remorseful.
Berstein is expected to appeal.