Florida Supreme Court Suspends Former Key West City Attorney Ronald Ramsingh Amid Expanding Corruption Scandal
High court grants emergency Bar suspension after wiretapping-related arrest; fallout from alleged “Bubba Bozo Trio” scandal continues to shake Key West City Hall.
KEY WEST, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court on Monday ordered the emergency suspension of former Key West City Attorney Ronald James Ramsingh from the practice of law, the latest escalation in a widening public corruption scandal that has upended City Hall and triggered criminal prosecutions, internal audits and sweeping ethics reforms.
In a sharply divided 4-3 ruling, the court granted a petition by The Florida Bar seeking Ramsingh’s interim suspension under Rule 3-5.3 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, an emergency procedure used when the Bar alleges an attorney poses immediate harm to the public or the legal system.
The Supreme Court’s order takes effect in 30 days to allow Ramsingh to close out his legal anffairs and protect existing clients, unless he notifies the court he is no longer practicing and waives the delay.
The order immediately prohibits him from accepting new business.
The court further directed Ramsingh to notify all courts, clients, co-counsel and opposing counsel tied to his active cases and to provide sworn proof of compliance to Bar counsel within 30 days.
Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz joined Justices Jorge Labarga, John Couriel and Meredith Sasso Francis in approving the suspension. Justices Jamie Grosshans, Renatha Francis Sasso and Charles T. Canady Tanenbaum would have denied the petition.
The order itself contains no factual findings and does not determine guilt.
The “Bubba Bozo Trio”
The suspension lands against the backdrop of one of the most politically explosive scandals in recent Key West history.
Ramsingh, 51, was fired April 24, 2025, when the Key West City Commission voted 4-3 to terminate him without cause just days after a Monroe County grand jury indictment accused him of multiple felonies, including evidence tampering, illegal interception of communications and disclosure of intercepted communications.
The indictments also targeted Ramsingh’s brother, former Chief Building Official Rajindhar Ramsingh, and former Code Enforcement Director Jim Young.
Together, the trio became known around City Hall and local political circles as the “Bubba Bozo Trio,” a nickname tied to allegations of insider maneuvering, political retaliation and document destruction surrounding the turbulent 2024 ouster of former City Manager Al Childress.
A Monroe County grand jury accused the three men of participating in a broad conspiracy involving falsified permit records, destruction of public documents and favoritism toward preferred contractors. Combined, the indictments alleged 21 felony counts, including conspiracy, official misconduct and falsification of records.
All three men have denied wrongdoing, and the criminal cases remain pending as the overall investigation by the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigations continues.
The scandal shook 1300 White Street, unleashing a chain reaction that continues to reshape municipal government in the Southernmost City.
It is the most significant scandal at City Hall in the last 50 years since the disappearance of drug-dealing fire chief Joseph “Bum” Farto. The fallout prompted internal audits, policy overhauls, records-management reforms and a series of high-level personnel changes across City Hall.
Severance Fight Deepened Public Outrage
Ramsingh’s firing triggered another round of controversy when commissioners opted to terminate him “without cause,” a move that entitled him to roughly $221,000 in severance and benefits under his employment agreement.
Before his dismissal, Ramsingh had proposed that the City continue funding his private criminal defense in exchange for his agreement not to sue the City, according to public meeting discussions at the time.
The proposal sharply divided commissioners and drew fierce criticism from Commissioner Sam Kaufman.
“It would set a dangerous precedent to fund the criminal defense of the very attorney accused of betraying the public trust,” Kaufman said during the debate.
The commission ultimately rejected the proposal and instead voted to terminate Ramsingh while honoring the severance provisions of his contract.
What Comes Next
Ramsingh may still seek rehearing before the Florida Supreme Court, though the justices stated any such motion would not delay the effective date of the suspension.
The Bar disciplinary proceedings and criminal prosecutions continue separately.
This is an evolving story. Watch this space.