A retired judge from New York, Stewart Rosenwasser, ended his life on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, during an FBI raid on his Campbell Hall, New York residence.
The FBI agents were present at his home to arrest him regarding federal charges of bribery and corruption that rose to the surface during his tenure at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. An exchange of gunfire between Rosenwasser and law enforcement preceded his death, abruptly concluding a federal investigation that had lasted several months and exposed allegations of misconduct.
The 71-year-old Rosenwasser was under investigation for allegedly accepting bribes from a wealthy ex-restaurant owner, Mout’z Soudani. The federal indictment against Rosenwasser accused him of accepting $63,000 in payments to misuse his authority as the chief counsel at the District Attorney’s Office to instigate criminal investigations against Soudani’s relatives, Martin and Eman Soudani. The relatives were embroiled in personal disputes with Soudani, who sought Rosenwasser’s assistance.
The indictment revealed that the bribes started in 2022 and were mostly transacted through checks and money orders. Rosenwasser would allegedly give Soudani updates on the investigation in return for the payments. “The indictment alleges that Rosenwasser accepted at least $63,000 in bribe payments,” NBC New York reported.
On the morning of the FBI raid, agents approached Rosenwasser’s home to arrest him. Reports from law enforcement indicate that the former judge brandished a firearm at the agents, provoking at least one gunshot. It is still uncertain if Rosenwasser was injured during the confrontation. Following the initial encounter, Rosenwasser barricaded himself inside his home where he is believed to have taken his life. “As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide,” the FBI stated.
Rosenwasser’s death occurred just a day after a grand jury indicted him on charges including bribery, extortion, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and making false statements. The indictment alleged that Rosenwasser conspired with Soudani to wrongfully prosecute his family members while in his official role. These actions led to Rosenwasser’s resignation from the District Attorney’s Office in June 2024, several months before the federal indictment was publicly released.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler expressed his sorrow over the situation, stating “It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family,”.
Despite his respected career in the legal field and multiple awards for his work, Rosenwasser’s legacy is now tarnished by allegations of corruption. Over several decades, he held numerous significant roles within the Orange County legal system, including roles as a prosecutor, a judge, and the executive assistant district attorney. He received recognition for his contributions to the legal community, including the “Arson Prosecutor of the Year” award in 2023. However, federal investigators alleged a pattern of misconduct behind his professional accomplishments, including the misuse of his position for personal gain.
In line with agency policy, the FBI’s internal Inspection Division is examining the events of the raid, following any incident where an agent discharges a firearm.
The indictment against Rosenwasser is part of a larger investigation into corruption within the Orange County justice system. Prosecutors claim that Rosenwasser misused his office to favor personal relationships. His co-defendant in the case, Soudani, also faces charges for his involvement in the bribery scheme. The federal indictment, which partially remains sealed, is expected to reveal more details about the corruption’s full extent.
As the investigation proceeds, more information about the extent of the bribery scheme is anticipated to be unveiled.
