Retired Judge Dies During FBI Arrest Raising Questions

At a Glance

Justice Stewart Rosenwasser, 72, died during an FBI arrest at his home.
Rosenwasser was accused of accepting $63,000 in bribes.
His death is under FBI investigation, reportedly an agent-involved shooting.
Documents show evidence linking him to bribery and fabrication of cases.

Judge’s Arrest and Untimely Death

Retired New York State Judge Stewart Rosenwasser died on Tuesday morning at his home in Campbell Hall, a senior retirement community, just as FBI agents arrived to arrest him. The 72-year-old former Orange County Court judge was facing indictment on charges of embezzlement and bribery, accused of accepting $63,000 in bribes to influence a case in favor of his friend, Marty Soudani.

Rosenwasser allegedly pointed a gun at an FBI agent, prompting the agent to fire a shot, after which Rosenwasser barricaded himself and ultimately took his own life. The indictment and subsequent investigation centered around a trail of checks and text messages that implicated Rosenwasser in the bribery scheme. The judge reportedly resigned from the Orange County District Attorney’s office in June, raising further suspicion.

FBI came to arrest retired NY judge Rosenwasser. Judge got into a shootout with FBI agents. Judge just died by suicide during the FBI shootout. Alleged bribery. There has to be much more than the single bribery case FBI admitted for this dramatic ending.https://t.co/P2ZmjxvGc9

— IncarcerNation.com (@IncarcerNation) September 25, 2024

Investigation and Evidence

Federal court documents detailed money orders and checks made out to Rosenwasser. Text messages revealed promises made by the judge to protect and help Soudani. The payments were allegedly made in exchange for fabricating an embezzlement case. Rosenwasser’s indictment was based on solid evidence linking him to the scandal, including a paper trail of financial transactions and communications.

“It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family,” stated Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler.

Soudani repeatedly made $5,000 payments marked as “loan,” which were part of the total sum Rosenwasser was accused of accepting. The nature of these transactions raised red flags, leading to the federal grand jury indictment. Rosenwasser’s sudden resignation further fueled the ongoing investigation that culminated in the tragic events as the FBI sought to bring him to justice.

Retired NY Judge kills self at home as FBI arrive to arrest him https://t.co/VTqEcGgSCm

— ABC11 EyewitnessNews (@ABC11_WTVD) September 24, 2024

Ongoing FBI Review

The FBI has announced that it is currently reviewing the agent-involved shooting, adhering to standard procedures for incidents involving FBI personnel. Statements from the FBI remain limited due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, with the Inspection Division taking charge of the review process.

As details continue to emerge, the investigation aims to uncover the full extent of Rosenwasser’s involvement in the bribery scandal and the exact circumstances that led to his death. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the FBI has committed to a thorough and transparent review process.