Ex-New York prosecutor accused in bribery case dies by suicide during FBI raid Reports

A former New York prosecutor and retired judge reportedly committed suicide Tuesday after an apparent shootout with the FBI as agents raided his home to arrest him in a federal corruption case.

Stewart Rosenwasser was accused on Monday in a federal district court in New York on charges of taking bribes to launch a criminal investigation while working for the Orange County District Attorney. According to various sources, when the FBI arrived at Rosenwasser’s home in rural Orange County on Tuesday to apprehend him, he allegedly committed suicide after agents shot at him.

The FBI told USA TODAY that the Inspection Division was “reviewing an agent-involved shooting,” as is bureau standard.

“As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide,” the statement stated.

Rosenwasser died the day following his federal indictment.

The FBI arrived at Rosenwasser’s home in the rural town of Campbell Hall early Tuesday morning to arrest him, according to numerous media sites citing law enforcement sources familiar with the case.

According to two sources familiar with the matter, Rosenwasser aimed a gun at agents, and at least one of them fired a shot. Rosenwasser then barricaded himself in his house, where he is suspected of committing suicide, sources informed CBS News New York and ABC News.

The claimed gunfire incident occurred one day after a federal grand jury voted to indict Rosenwasser on counts of bribery, extortion, false statements, and wire fraud, according to court records.

Rosenwasser, a retired New York judge, reportedly left in June from the Orange County District Attorney’s office, where he served as chief counsel and executive assistant district attorney.

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

Rosenwasser is accused of accepting $63,000 in bribery.

Rosenwasser was charged in a federal indictment with taking at least $63,000 in bribe money to use his position as district attorney to investigate two people.

According to the FBI indictment, the request came from a billionaire former restaurant owner to whom Rosenwasser promised to provide updates on the probe.

He is accused of collecting bribes primarily in the form of checks or money orders beginning in 2022, according to the indictment.

Source: USA Today