A former New York judge, Stewart Rosenwasser, took his own life during an FBI raid on his Campbell Hall, New York residence on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
The federal agents had arrived to arrest Rosenwasser in relation to bribery and corruption charges that emerged during his tenure at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. His suicide followed a gunfire exchange with law enforcement, abruptly concluding a federal probe that had lasted for several months and revealed misconduct allegations.
At 71, Rosenwasser was under investigation for allegedly receiving bribes from a wealthy ex-restaurant owner named Mout’z Soudani. The federal indictment accused Rosenwasser of accepting $63,000 to exploit his position as chief counsel at the District Attorney’s Office, initiating criminal investigations against Soudani’s relatives, Martin and Eman Soudani, who were reportedly embroiled in personal disputes with Soudani.
The indictment documents state that the bribe payments, which started in 2022, were primarily made through checks and money orders. In return, Rosenwasser purportedly relayed updates on the investigation directly to Soudani. “The indictment alleges that Rosenwasser accepted at least $63,000 in bribe payments,” reported NBC New York.
On the day of the raid, the ex-judge brandished a weapon at the FBI agents who had come to arrest him at his home, prompting at least one shot to be fired. It is yet to be established whether Rosenwasser was injured during this initial confrontation. After the standoff, Rosenwasser barricaded himself in his residence, where he is believed to have subsequently committed suicide. “As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide,” stated the FBI.
Just a day prior to his death, a grand jury had indicted Rosenwasser on several charges, including bribery, extortion, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and making false statements. The indictment alleged that Rosenwasser, in his official capacity, conspired with Soudani to wrongfully target his family members for prosecution. These actions ultimately led to Rosenwasser’s resignation from the District Attorney’s Office in June 2024, several months ahead of the public disclosure of the federal indictment.
“It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way,” expressed Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”
Rosenwasser, who was awarded for his legal work, leaves behind a legacy tarnished by corruption allegations. His decades-long career saw him hold several notable roles within the Orange County legal system, such as prosecutor, judge, and the executive assistant district attorney. He was acknowledged for his contributions to the legal community, receiving accolades like the “Arson Prosecutor of the Year” award in 2023. However, federal investigators alleged that his professional accolades were overshadowed by misconduct, including the misuse of his position for personal financial gain.
The FBI has confirmed that its internal Inspection Division is examining the circumstances of the raid, in accordance with the agency’s policy, after any incident involving an agent discharging a firearm.
The indictment against Rosenwasser forms part of a wider probe into corruption within the Orange County justice system. Prosecutors claim that Rosenwasser exploited his office to bolster personal relationships. Soudani, his co-defendant in the case, also faces charges for his involvement in the bribery scheme. The partially sealed federal indictment is anticipated to divulge further details about the full extent of the corruption.
As the investigation progresses, it is expected to shed more light on the depth and reach of the bribery scheme.