Retired NY Judge Stewart Rosenwasser Dies Amid FBI Arrest for Embezzlement and Bribery.
At a Glance
- Retired Judge Stewart Rosenwasser died during an FBI arrest attempt.
- Rosenwasser was facing bribery charges and a federal indictment.
- A disputed agent-involved shooting is under review.
- Evidence ties Rosenwasser to $63,000 in bribes.
FBI Attempts Arrest: Tragic Encounter
Former Orange County Court Judge Stewart Rosenwasser, 72, was found dead on the morning of his arrest by FBI agents over embezzlement and bribery charges. His death, officially reported as a suicide, occurred at his Campbell Hall home in a senior retirement community.
Rosenwasser had a long career in law enforcement, transitioning from prosecutor to judge in Orange County, New York. On Tuesday, FBI agents arrived at his residence just a day after a grand jury indicted him, charging him with accepting $63,000 in bribes. Meanwhile, Rosenwasser’s son contends it was an agent-involved shooting, opposite to initial suicide reports. The FBI’s Inspection Division is currently reviewing the incident.
A former judge shot and killed himself when FBI agents arrived at his Orange County home to arrest him Tuesday, police sources tell @ZinniaDee_TV. https://t.co/rqA4MHOFyP
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) September 25, 2024
Financial Misdeeds and Federal Indictment
Rosenwasser was embroiled in legal troubles due to allegations of receiving $63,000 from co-defendant Marty Soudani between 2022 and 2024. Court documents reveal a trail of checks, money orders, and incriminating text messages linking him to the scandal. He promised to protect and help Soudani by leveraging his position. The indictment followed an intense 2022 investigation, highlighting serious charges of bribery and misconduct.
The indictment documents detailed multiple payments made by Soudani to Rosenwasser, in exchange for fabricating an embezzlement case involving a relative of Soudani. This paper trail led to the swift actions taken by the FBI. As agents attempted to arrest him, Rosenwasser allegedly pointed a gun at an FBI agent, who in turn fired a shot. Following this, Rosenwasser barricaded himself and is believed to have taken his own life.
Official Investigations and Condolences
The FBI has stated that all shootings involving their agents are taken seriously and undergo thorough reviews. The Southern District of New York prosecutors have yet to comment on the investigation. The sentiments in the community are mixed, with both disbelief and sorrow over the incident and the charges facing Rosenwasser.
“The FBI is reviewing an agent-involved shooting that occurred earlier this morning in Campbell Hall, NY. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents seriously. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide.”
His sudden resignation from the Orange County District Attorney’s office in June raised eyebrows and hinted at possible underlying issues. Following his death, his former boss, David Hoovler, expressed condolences, stating, “It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”
