Clewiston City Hall probe ends without charges after raids, hiring concerns and bid tampering claims

Nearly a year after Hendry County Sheriff's Office investigators raided Clewiston City Hall and other city offices, the state attorney's office has declined to file criminal charges against two city officials at the center of the investigation. The investigation began in August 2025 after then-Clewiston police Chief Tom Lewis raised concerns about city hiring practices and other actions by City Manager Daniel Williams. Lewis resigned days later, saying Williams told him to begin looking for another job after he questioned personnel decisions. Among Lewis' concerns was the hiring process for Jorge Soto, the nephew of City Commissioner Mali Gardner. Investigators said Soto was under criminal investigation for obscene communication with a minor while applying for a city job without a background check and that his hiring was initially paused before he was later hired. Documents also say Lewis told investigators that Soto's wife said he had a cocaine problem. Lewis also questioned the hiring of Christopher Cooper, who had previously pleaded to aggravated battery and was serving sex offender probation when he was hired. The investigation later expanded beyond hiring practices to examine allegations that Williams and Finance Director Randolph Maxson improperly switched the city's pension plans to a firm owned by former City Manager Al Perry without City Commission approval. Detectives also investigated whether officials improperly removed city liens tied to the sale of the Relax Inn, a transaction involving Maxson's wife, a real estate agent. In September 2025, Hendry County Sheriff's Office investigators executed search warrants at Clewiston City Hall and later at the city's Planning and Zoning offices, seizing computers, cellphones, contracts, pension records and other documents. Investigators ultimately recommended multiple criminal charges against Williams, including four counts of bid tampering, official misconduct, conspiracy to commit official misconduct and two city ordinance violations related to hiring. They also recommended charging Maxson with two counts of bid tampering, official misconduct and conspiracy. After reviewing the case, however, the 20th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the required criminal intent for any of the proposed charges or city ordinance violations. Prosecutors declined to file charges against either Williams or Maxson. Although prosecutors found no basis for criminal charges, the state attorney's office criticized city operations, citing weak oversight, poor transparency and questionable management practices. The findings also noted that investigators found evidence that Maxson accessed pornographic websites on a city-owned computer and recovered text messages that disparaged city employees and mocked Clewiston residents. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Investigation underway into business practices at Clewiston City Hall Second raid in 2 months leaves Clewiston residents demanding change Clewiston mayor calls special meeting amid city hall investigation Clewiston city leaders want FDLE involved following City Hall raid Clewiston probe may take time as records reviewed following raids, HCSO says DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.