Retired NY judge Stewart Rosenwasser died during an FBI arrest attempt on bribery and embezzlement charges.
At a Glance
- Stewart Rosenwasser, a retired judge, died during an FBI arrest attempt.
- He was accused of taking $63,000 in bribes for favorable judgments.
- The FBI is investigating the incident as an “agent-involved shooting.”
- Rosenwasser resigned from the Orange County District Attorney’s office in June.
A Shocking End for a Respected Figure
On Tuesday, retired New York judge Stewart Rosenwasser died during an FBI operation aimed at arresting him for charges of embezzlement and bribery. The incident occurred at his residence in Campbell Hall, a senior retirement community. Rosenwasser, 72, was under investigation for allegedly taking $63,000 in bribes over nearly two years and using his position to influence judicial outcomes.
According to the FBI, their agents arrived at Rosenwasser’s home to carry out the arrest. Reports suggest that Rosenwasser pointed a gun at an FBI agent, leading the agent to fire a shot in response. Subsequently, Rosenwasser barricaded himself in his home and is believed to have fatally shot himself.
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
Accusations and Evidence
Rosenwasser faced serious allegations based on an investigation involving his acceptance of bribes, amounting to $63,000, for favorable judgments. Federal indictment papers unveiled evidence, including money orders, checks, and text messages linking him to the scandal. These payments came from Marty Soudani, a longtime associate of Rosenwasser, in exchange for judicial favors to benefit Soudani’s interests.
“I’m going to go into the grand jury as soon as I receive your certified bank records,” Rosenwasser allegedly texted Soudani on Dec. 23, 2022. “I have arranged an audit of all the electronic transfers.”
The FBI is currently reviewing the incident as part of their standard protocol for any agent-involved shooting. Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York have thus far declined to comment, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. Detailed and conclusive results of this review are awaited, as they will be crucial to understanding the precise dynamics of the tragic event.
FBI came to arrest retired NY judge Rosenwasser. Judge got into a shootout with FBI agents. Judge just died by suicide during the FBI shootout. Alleged bribery. There has to be much more than the single bribery case FBI admitted for this dramatic ending.https://t.co/P2ZmjxvGc9
— IncarcerNation.com (@IncarcerNation) September 25, 2024
A Sudden End and Reflections
Rosenwasser’s resignation from the Orange County District Attorney’s office in June and his subsequent actions have raised significant questions about the extent of prosecutorial misconduct. His former boss, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, expressed condolences, stating, “It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”
While Rosenwasser’s legacy includes notable contributions to the judiciary, the revelations tied to his final days have cast a shadow on his professional life. The complexity surrounding his last moments, including the family’s challenge to the suicide report, only adds to the gravity of the situation. As the FBI continues to probe the incident, the judicial community and the public are left grappling with the implications of such a high-profile case of judicial misconduct.
Sources
1. Retired Judge Stewart Rosenwasser kills self at Orange County home as FBI arrive to arrest him
