Former New York state judge Stewart Rosenwasser died by suicide as FBI agents arrived at his home to arrest him on charges related to an embezzlement and bribery investigation.
The Western Journal reported that Rosenwasser had been indicted a day before on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud, and extortion.
On a quiet Tuesday morning, FBI agents arrived at the Campbell Hall home of Rosenwasser, located near Middletown, New York, to execute an arrest warrant.
The former judge, who had served as both a prosecutor and a judge in Orange County, was at the center of a federal investigation.
According to authorities, the FBI agents arrived at approximately 9:35 a.m. to apprehend Rosenwasser. As they approached the house, shots rang out, and the situation quickly escalated. Rosenwasser allegedly barricaded himself inside his home, leading to a tense standoff.
Unnamed sources cited by the Albany Times-Union reported that, after a few minutes of silence, multiple shots were heard coming from inside the house. Rosenwasser is believed to have fired four shots before taking his own life. However, the exact sequence of events has remained murky.
According to NBC, there are reports that Rosenwasser may have pointed a gun at the FBI agents when they arrived at his residence. In response, at least one shot was reportedly fired by the agents, although it is unclear how this contributed to the tragic outcome.
The FBI quickly confirmed an "agent-involved shooting" and stated that the incident would undergo an internal review. In their public statement, the FBI emphasized that all shootings involving agents are taken seriously and would be evaluated by the agency's Inspection Division.
Following the incident, Rosenwasser's son, Jason, expressed concerns over how the events were being portrayed in the media. In a statement shared with the New York Post, Jason highlighted a contradiction between the headlines that labeled his father’s death a suicide and the FBI’s description of the situation as an agent-involved shooting.
"The only thing I feel compelled to point out," he stated, "is that the local news headlines are reporting that my father fatally shot himself while also reporting in the same article that the FBI field office issued a statement calling it an agent-involved shooting."
Just one day before the fatal confrontation, Stewart Rosenwasser had been indicted on a series of serious charges. The indictment alleged that Rosenwasser had accepted $63,000 in bribes to influence the outcome of a legal case.
The case involved Mout’z "Marty" Soudani, an old friend of Rosenwasser’s. Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
In addition to the conspiracy charges, Rosenwasser faced charges of honest services wire fraud, extortion under the color of official right, and making false statements to the FBI. The indictment painted a picture of a high-profile legal figure who had crossed serious ethical and legal boundaries.
As federal agents review their own conduct during the raid, the FBI has not provided additional details regarding the nature of the agent-involved shooting. In their official statement, the FBI made it clear that, as the investigation remains ongoing, further updates on the incident would not be available at this time.
"In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide," the FBI said in its public release.
The news of Rosenwasser’s death and the charges against him have left a deep impact on the local legal community. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler shared his condolences following the tragic incident. "It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way," Hoovler said. "My heartfelt condolences go out to his family."
For many in the community, Rosenwasser’s death marked a shocking and tragic end to a lengthy legal career.
Having once been a respected prosecutor and judge, the revelation of his alleged involvement in bribery and fraud left many wondering how things had spiraled so dramatically.
As of now, the investigation into both the charges against Rosenwasser and the events of the FBI raid continues. While the indictment brought forward serious allegations against the former judge, the exact circumstances surrounding his death are still being scrutinized.
The federal probe into the bribery case involving Rosenwasser and Soudani also remains active. Both men were set to face multiple counts related to their alleged conspiracy to sway the outcome of a legal case. Now, however, Rosenwasser’s role in that investigation has come to an unexpected and fatal conclusion.
It is yet unclear whether any additional charges or actions will be taken as a result of the investigation into Rosenwasser’s dealings and the FBI's involvement in his death.
