Superseding Indictment Expands Key West Permit Corruption Probe
A federal and county investigation into alleged permit manipulation at Key West City Hall advanced on Oct. 14, 2025, when a superseding indictment charged former Chief Building Official Rajindhar “Raj” Ramsingh and contractor Max Yael Heller with conspiracy to commit official misconduct. The development builds on earlier indictments and a grand jury report that accused City Hall of negligence and nepotism, raising fresh concerns about building safety, fairness in permitting and local government accountability.
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A superseding indictment filed Oct. 14, 2025, in Monroe County adds new conspiracy charges against former Key West Chief Building Official Rajindhar “Raj” Ramsingh and contractor Max Yael Heller as part of an ongoing joint investigation by the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office and the FBI into alleged public corruption at Key West City Hall. Prosecutors charged both men with four counts of conspiracy to commit official misconduct, and the filing also includes four additional official misconduct counts against Ramsingh. The indictment, verified through local reporting, introduces new evidence and conspiracy allegations against Heller that expand the criminal case.
The investigation centers on alleged manipulation of city building-permit records between November 2021 and January 2024. Authorities say the scheme benefitted specific properties and entities, including Ramsingh’s company, Strykker-Avery Homes LLC. Properties named in investigative materials include 1504 18th St., 510 Fleming St., 1114 Olivia St. and 1101 Simonton St. Prosecutors and federal agents are pursuing records, testimony and other evidence compiled over more than a year of inquiry.
This superseding indictment builds on earlier developments in the unfolding scandal. Initial arrests and indictments on April 15, 2025, targeted Raj Ramsingh, his brother Ron Ramsingh and former Code Enforcement Director Jim Young on charges related to tampering with evidence involving subpoenaed text messages. On May 7, 2025, Raj Ramsingh was additionally indicted on a count of organized fraud. A Monroe County Grand Jury released a 29-page report on May 29, 2025, detailing negligence, nepotism and corruption at City Hall and recommending reforms; that report preceded the July 11 resignation of Assistant City Manager Todd Stoughton and the June 2024 firing of City Manager Al Childress after the Corradino Report flagged problems in the building department.
The allegations carry tangible local consequences. Building and permitting systems are central to property safety, insurance, development timelines and costs in a tourism-driven economy that depends on safe, well-regulated structures. Officials and community leaders have been warned that falsified records or insider favoritism could lead to unequal treatment of permit applicants, delayed projects, compromised building standards and elevated risks for homeowners and businesses. The grand jury recommended measures including third-party audits and whistleblower protections to restore confidence in permitting and construction oversight.
The investigation remains active. Court records for trial dates and outcomes have yet to be set publicly, and prosecutors have indicated follow-up is necessary to determine whether additional charges or further evidence will surface. State Attorney Dennis Ward has emphasized the need for continued accountability and further verification through the judicial process.
For Monroe County residents and property owners, the case underscores the importance of institutional transparency and reliable oversight of permitting. As the judicial process proceeds, local officials and the community face the task of implementing safeguards that prevent future abuses and preserve public trust in Key West’s municipal governance.