Hendry Sheriff Office Releases Statement On Clewiston City Investigation

PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING:
INVESTIGATION AT THE CITY OF CLEWISTON CITY HALL

We recognize that the residents of Clewiston want resolve, information and answers regarding the 2025 Investigation that was initiated after receiving complaints concerning business practices within Clewiston City Hall.

After Detectives were granted the Search Warrant by a Judge, they responded for the first time and removed a substantial amount of items in October of 2025. This investigation and information discovered during this time led to another search warrant at the Building and Zoning Office in November 2025.

Our Investigators are having to go through thousands of documents, to include emails and text messages that have been extracted from computers and cell phones; they also must continue to thoroughly Investigate other crimes that occur within the county and investigate these crimes in a manner that they are successfully prosecuted for these victims as well.

This Investigation involves white collar crime, that is nonviolent in nature and may lead to financial gain or a particular business advantage. Sometimes these investigations take much longer to solve.

We are working closely with the State Attorney’s Office.

The thoroughness of this investigation is being done in the best interest of the residents of the City of Clewiston as well as city leaders.

We continue to work diligently to bring closure to this, we understand the public wants and deserves that.

Editor's Note: It is speculated the investigation centers around bid tampering and/or building permit issuance, possibly as a result of a complaint and law suit by a business affected by the city's  process and the city's alleged failure to provide documents to a complainant.

A  case brought against the City of Clewiston may have or may have not any relevance to the investigation underway. 

In searching legal actions against the City of Clewiston, court records indicate On May 27, 2025, Plaintiff, Brian Sullivan Contractor, Inc. of Lake Placid, by it's attorney Steven Ramunni, filed a Complaint against Defendant, the City of Clewiston in the Hendry Circuit Court asking for a release of documents from the city pertaining to all new construction permits and new construction permits that were denied by the city. The city apparently did not respond at all.

The city later responded to it's lack of action saying, On May 7, 2025, the City issued a Request for Letters of Interest for firms to respond and potentially contract to provide municipal legal services to the City. 

Between May 7, 2025, and June 16, 2025, the City went through the process of receiving letters of interest, interviewing firms, and negotiating a contract to be approved by the Board. The City ultimately made the decision to contract with a firm, who had not previously provided legal services to the City. 

 Meanwhile, Plaintiff Brian Sullivan Contractor filed a Motion for Default for failure by the City to respond to the law suit and on July 3, 2025, a Clerk's Default was entered against the city on the same day.

 The City's says it's counsel was made aware of this action and the Motion for Default on July 25, 2025, and they then took steps to remedy the default, including communicating with Plaintiff's counsel regarding the default and the City's desire to defend this action on the merits. 

 Defendant's counsel filed its Notice of Appearance on July 30, 2025 after the Default had already been entered, and has been in communication with Plaintiff's counsel. Plaintiff's counsel indicated that he did not have opposition to setting aside the default.

That case is continuing, with hearings set for March and July, 2026.