Stewart Rosenwasser, a former judge from New York, ended his life on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, during an FBI raid at his Campbell Hall, New York residence.
The FBI agents were present to arrest him regarding federal corruption and bribery charges that emerged during his tenure at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Following a gunfight with law enforcement, Rosenwasser’s life ended abruptly, thus ending a federal investigation that had been ongoing for several months and had exposed allegations of ethical violations.
Rosenwasser, aged 71, had been under investigation for purportedly accepting bribes from a wealthy former restaurant proprietor, Moutz Soudani. The federal indictment charged him with accepting $63,000 in payments to misuse his position as chief counsel at the District Attorney’s Office to initiate criminal investigations against Soudani’s relatives, Martin and Eman Soudani. These individuals were allegedly entangled in personal conflicts with Soudani, who sought Rosenwasser’s involvement.
The indictment states that the bribery payments started in 2022 and were primarily transacted via checks and money orders. Rosenwasser allegedly gave Soudani updates on the investigation in return. “The indictment alleges that Rosenwasser accepted at least $63,000 in bribe payments,” according to reports.
On the raid’s morning, FBI agents approached Rosenwasser’s residence to arrest him. According to law enforcement reports, the former judge aimed a gun at the agents, which led to at least one shot being fired. It is still uncertain whether Rosenwasser was wounded at this stage. Following the initial encounter, Rosenwasser barricaded himself inside his home, where he is presumed to have taken his own life. “As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide,” stated the FBI.
A grand jury indicted Rosenwasser on charges including bribery, extortion, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and making false statements, just a day before his death. The indictment contended that Rosenwasser conspired with Soudani to wrongfully target his family members through prosecution while serving in his official capacity. These actions led to Rosenwasser’s resignation from the District Attorney’s Office in June 2024, months prior to the federal indictment becoming public.
“It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way,” mentioned Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”
Despite receiving several honors for his legal work, Rosenwasser’s legacy is now tarnished by corruption allegations. His career, which spanned several decades, included various notable positions within the Orange County legal system. He served as a prosecutor, a judge, and the executive assistant district attorney before his most recent role. His contributions to the legal community earned him awards such as the “Arson Prosecutor of the Year” in 2023. However, federal investigators alleged a pattern of misconduct behind his professional achievements, including using his position for personal financial benefit.
Following the incident involving an agent discharging a weapon, the FBI’s internal Inspection Division is reviewing the raid’s events, as per the agency’s policy.
The indictment of Rosenwasser is a part of a larger investigation into corruption within the Orange County justice system. Prosecutors claim that Rosenwasser utilized his office to further personal relationships. His co-defendant in the case, Soudani, also faces charges for his involvement in the bribery scheme. The federal indictment, which is partially sealed, is anticipated to reveal more details about the corruption’s full extent.
As the investigation proceeds, more information is expected to surface, shedding light on the extent of the bribery scheme.
