A retired New York judge, Stewart Rosenwasser, died by suicide on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, during an FBI raid at his home in Campbell Hall, New York.
FBI agents had arrived to arrest him in connection with federal bribery and corruption charges that had surfaced during his time in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. His death occurred after an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement, bringing an abrupt end to a federal investigation that spanned months and unveiled allegations of misconduct.
Rosenwasser, 71, had been under scrutiny for allegedly accepting bribes from a wealthy former restaurant owner, Mout’z Soudani. The federal indictment against him accused him of taking $63,000 in payments to leverage his position as chief counsel at the District Attorney’s Office to launch criminal investigations targeting Soudani’s relatives, Martin and Eman Soudani. These individuals were reportedly involved in personal disputes with Soudani, who requested Rosenwasser’s intervention.
According to the indictment, the bribe payments began in 2022 and were made primarily through checks and money orders. Rosenwasser allegedly provided updates on the investigation directly to Soudani in return. “The indictment alleges that Rosenwasser accepted at least $63,000 in bribe payments,” NBC New York reported.
On the morning of the raid, FBI agents approached Rosenwasser’s home to arrest him. According to reports from law enforcement, the former judge pointed a gun at the agents, prompting at least one shot to be fired. It remains unclear whether Rosenwasser was injured at that point. After the initial confrontation, Rosenwasser barricaded himself in his home, where he is believed to have taken his own life. “As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide,” the FBI said.
Rosenwasser’s death came just one day after a grand jury indicted him on charges that included bribery, extortion, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and making false statements. The indictment claimed that Rosenwasser, while serving in his official capacity, conspired with Soudani to target his family members through prosecution wrongfully. These actions eventually led to Rosenwasser’s resignation from the District Attorney’s Office in June 2024, months before the federal indictment was made public.
“It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way,” said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”
Rosenwasser, who had received accolades for his work in the legal field, left a legacy now marred by corruption allegations. His career spanned decades, during which he held several prominent positions within the Orange County legal system. Before his most recent role, he had served as a prosecutor, a judge, and the executive assistant district attorney. He had been recognized for his contributions to the legal community, receiving awards such as the “Arson Prosecutor of the Year” award in 2023. However, federal investigators alleged that behind his professional accolades lay a pattern of misconduct, including leveraging his position for financial gain.
The FBI has stated that its internal Inspection Division is reviewing the raid’s events, as per the agency’s policy, following any incident involving an agent discharging a weapon.
Rosenwasser’s indictment is part of a broader investigation into corruption within the Orange County justice system. Prosecutors allege that Rosenwasser used his office to further personal relationships. Soudani, his co-defendant in the case, also faces charges for his role in the bribery scheme. The federal indictment, which remains sealed in part, is expected to provide additional details about the full extent of the corruption.
As the investigation continues, more information is expected to emerge, revealing how far-reaching the bribery scheme may have been.
