BREAKING: FBI interview alleges ‘rogue’ permitting unit, document shredding and coordinated effort to oust city manager in Key West
New discovery obtained and reviewed by Above the Fold shows a shadowy world of collusion and protection within 1300 White Street.
A newly released FBI interview with a Key West building inspector — disclosed as part of a tranche of discovery in the “Bubba Bozo Trio” public-corruption investigation by the FBI and the Monroe County State Attorney — alleges a rogue permitting and code-enforcement operation protected by former City Attorney Ron Ramsingh, aided by former Code Enforcement Director Jim Young, and reinforced through informal coordination that included weekly Friday meetings at Goldman’s Deli where city business and the fate of the city manager were openly discussed.
The allegations are detailed in an FBI FD-302 report dated May 23, 2025, summarizing a May 14 interview with Tarin Wright, a city building inspector since 2022. The interview was conducted at the FBI’s Key West Resident Agency and released as part of discovery in the broader corruption probe.
According to the document, Wright told agents that former Chief Building Official Rajindhar Ramsingh routinely ordered inspectors to red-tag properties without clear violations, delay permits to manufacture enforcement actions and target certain contractors while favoring others. Wright said inspectors were pressured to carry out those orders under threat of discipline.
Wright told agents that resistance by inspectors was met with retaliation, including write-ups, denial of raises and warnings of insubordination. As inspectors increasingly pushed back, Raj Ramsingh proposed requiring inspectors to wear body-worn cameras during inspections, according to the FBI summary.
Wright said he viewed the body-camera proposal as an abuse of power, telling agents that inspections often involve sensitive encounters inside private homes and businesses. He said he feared recordings could be selectively monitored or used as leverage, describing the cameras as a potential “blackmail tool” against inspectors who did not comply with directives.
The FD-302 states that Raj Ramsingh insisted inspections be fully recorded and warned inspectors they would not receive additional training, licenses or coursework, and that the city would not reimburse inspectors who paid for training themselves.
The interview also describes an incident Wright said occurred after he raised concerns about being directed to conduct inspections outside his licensing authority. Wright told agents that Raj Ramsingh arrived unusually early at the office the following morning and was shredding documents. Wright said Ramsingh then summoned him, reassigned disputed inspections and warned that transferring work back would result in human-resources action.
Wright further told agents that senior officials — including Raj Ramsingh, his brother Ron Ramsingh, Jim Young and Assistant City Manager Todd Stoughton — met for breakfast every Friday at Goldman’s Deli, where discussions routinely turned to internal city matters. Wright said those conversations included complaints about then-City Manager Albert Childress, resistance to his oversight and, ultimately, plans to remove him.
According to Wright, the group openly discussed Childress’ management style, the Corradino review of the Building and Planning Department and the votes needed on the City Commission to terminate Childress’ contract. Wright said the group appeared confident the outcome was predetermined before the matter ever reached the public dais.
Wright told agents that Jim Young played a central role in shaping the department’s culture. Young, Wright said, mentored Raj Ramsingh and modeled an authoritarian management style in which employees were publicly broken down, discouraged from questioning orders and rewarded for unquestioning compliance. Wright said Young carried personal grudges against certain contractors that translated into aggressive enforcement actions.
The FBI summary also reflects Wright’s statements that Young maintained close ties with the late attorney and developer Michael Halpern, reinforcing a perception among staff that Young and those aligned with him operated under special protection.
Wright said Young previously regained his city job after Halpern successfully represented him, a result that further cemented that belief.
The FD-302 also alleges selective enforcement against specific contractors, including Gulf Southern Construction Company, with Wright saying inspectors were ordered to audit every project and “find” violations. Wright described being instructed to red-tag multiple sites after permits were allegedly held back to justify enforcement.
Separate FBI interviews with other city employees — not Wright — described Raj Ramsingh becoming increasingly paranoid about surveillance as scrutiny intensified. Those employees told agents Ramsingh stopped using city-issued vehicles and iPads during inspections because he believed they could be tracked, and later avoided city-owned scooters out of concern they contained tracking devices.
Wright said conditions worsened after Childress imposed greater oversight on department heads, prompting resistance from what Wright described as an entrenched group that ultimately succeeded in forcing Childress out.
The FBI documents repeatedly state they contain neither findings nor conclusions and reflect only information provided by interviewees.
This is an evolving story. Watch this space.