A Monroe County grand jury this week returned an eight-count superseding indictment against Rajindhar Ramsingh, the former chief building official for the city of Key West, and against local contractor Max Yael Heller, who was associated with MTM Building & Roofing Contractors, according to state business records.
When the Keys Weekly called the listed phone number for the company and asked for Max Heller, the man who answered told the newspaper it was the wrong number and added, “Good luck with that guy.”
The most recent indictments follow an extensive and continuing joint investigation by the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office in cooperation with the FBI.
The superseding indictment charges Ramsingh and Heller with four counts of conspiracy to commit official misconduct and charges Ramsingh with four additional counts of official misconduct.
The four counts of conspiracy to commit official misconduct against Ramsingh and Heller mean that both men are charged together for conspiring to falsify, conceal or alter city building-permit records. The remaining four counts for Ramsingh charge him individually for the acts of official misconduct he is alleged to have committed while serving as chief building official. Ramsingh faces eight total charges — four that overlap with Max Heller, which are new charges, and four that he already faced on his own.
The indictments allege that between November 2021 and January 2024, Ramsingh and Heller conspired to manipulate official city records and building permit data to the detriment of the city of Key West, and/or provide unlawful advantages to MTM Building and Roofing, Strykker-Avery Homes LLC, which is owned by Ramsingh, and/or the property owners at the following Key West addresses:
• 1504 18th Street.
• 510 Fleming Street.
• 1114 Olivia Street.
• 1101 Simonton Street.
The owners of properties that are the subject of questionable permitting activities have not been charged with any wrongdoing and may not have been aware of the actions of Ramsingh or the contractor.
The superseding indictment against Ramsingh replaces earlier charges to incorporate new evidence and additional counts developed through the joint state-federal investigation.
Circuit Judge Mark Wilson on Oct. 14 signed a court-issued warrant directing law enforcement to arrest or summon Heller on four counts of conspiracy to commit official misconduct with bond set at $100,000. A new warrant was not sought for Ramsingh for the new conspiracy charges, as he remains under the jurisdiction of the court for his prior pending charges.
“When a public official abuses their position for personal or financial gain, it erodes the community’s faith in government,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “Our office, working closely with the FBI, will continue to ensure that those entrusted with public responsibilities uphold the law — not violate it.”
Major Crimes prosecutor Colleen Dunne presented the cases to the Monroe County Grand Jury and will serve as the lead prosecutor when the grand jury indictments proceed to trial.
