Retired New York judge, Stewart Rosenwasser reportedly took his own life during a shootout with FBI agents who were attempting to arrest him on bribery and corruption charges. The incident occurred at his home in Orange County on the morning of September 24, 2024.
Rosenwasser, a former prosecutor, had been embroiled in a federal bribery scandal. According to a 43-page indictment, he allegedly accepted $63,000 in bribes to manipulate a legal case in favor of his friend, millionaire businessman Mout'z Soudani. The indictment outlines a conspiracy between Rosenwasser and Soudani to fabricate a case against Soudani's relatives to recover allegedly stolen money.
As FBI agents approached his home, Rosenwasser allegedly opened fire before taking his own life shortly after 9:30 am. "The FBI is reviewing the incident at the Campbell Hall home," the agency said in a statement, noting that it is being investigated by the Inspection Division as is typically the case in agent-involved shootings. "As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide," the statement added.
The exchange of gunfire came just one day after a federal grand jury voted to indict Rosenwasser. The indictment claims that Rosenwasser and Soudani conspired to build a case against Soudani’s sister and nephew to recoup the allegedly stolen cash. In court filings reviewed by the Times-Union, the alleged bribery scheme “may present the most blatant example of prosecutorial corruption and fraud in the annals of New York case law.”
Rosenwasser's son, Jason, has asked for privacy for the family but cast doubt on reports that his father committed suicide.
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