Grand jury indicts three Key West top-ranking officials, including city attorney
A Monroe County grand jury on Tuesday indicted three high-level Key West officials on charges related to obstructing an ongoing criminal investigation into how the Southernmost City’s manager was fired last summer.
City Attorney Ronald Ramsingh, Code Compliance Director James Young and Building Department Director Rajindhar Ransingh are all charged, according to the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office.
The ongoing investigation began after the Key West City Commission controversially fired then-City Manager Al Childress without cause in June, Chief Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Joseph Mansfield told the Miami Herald.
The investigation into Childress’ firing caught the attention of the FBI, which assisted the State Attorney’s Office in its probe, Mansfield said.
At the time, the Keys Weekly reported that Childress believed the intent to fire him was based on a report he commissioned, which was specifically critical of Rajindhar Ramsingh, that revealed tensions between the city’s building and planning departments regarding permitting and approving projects.
“These are deeply troubling allegations involving multiple public officials in positions of trust and authority,” Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said in a statement. “Our justice system relies on transparency and accountability. When public servants interfere with investigations or misuse their access, they betray the very community they are sworn to serve.”
Accused of tampering with text messages
The Ramsinghs and Young are accused of tampering with physical evidence, “specifically text message communications sent and received during June 2024,” said State Attorney’s Office spokesman Steven Torrence.
Ronald Ramsingh, 51, is charged with tampering with physical evidence, illegal interception of a communication and disclosure of an illegally intercepted communication — all third-degree felonies. The indictment alleges that between June 1 and June 28, 2024, he knowingly altered or concealed electronic communications, and that on May 1, 2024, he illegally intercepted a Zoom video interview and later disclosed its contents without authorization.
James Young, 68, is charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors accuse him of concealing or removing “relevant communications” between June 1 and June 28, 2024, and shared them with “one or both of the other indicted officials,” Torrence said.
Rajindhar Ramsingh, 56, is also charged with tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors say he altered or destroyed “similar communications” in June.
“Tampering with evidence and illegal interception of communications strike at the core of our legal system. These coordinated acts of obstruction would not have come to light without the persistence of our investigative team and our federal partners,” Mansfield said in a statement. “The integrity of the justice process demands that we hold even the highest officials accountable when the law is broken.”
Each man faces up to five years in prison for each count, prosecutors say.
“The charges may also carry serious professional consequences, including potential disbarment and removal from public office,” Torrence said.
The three men were released from county jail late Tuesday night with first appearance before a judge scheduled for April 24, according to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office records. Ronald Ramsingh was released on a bond of $75,000. Rajindhar Ramsingh and Young were each released on a $25,000 bond.
Information about Young’s and Rajindhar Ramsingh’s legal representation was not immediately available.
Donald Barrett, attorney for Ronald Ramsingh, on Wednesday released an emailed statement to the Herald saying of his client:
“It is my privilege to represent Ronald Ramsingh, an upstanding member of this community. Not only does the law presume him innocent, but Mr. Ramsingh maintains his innocence, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM.
