Stewart Rosenwasser, a 72-year-old former prosecutor and retired judge, tragically ended his life on Tuesday morning as FBI agents arrived at his home in Campbell Hall, New York, to arrest him.

Rosenwasser, once a respected legal figure, had become embroiled in a federal bribery investigation, marking a sudden and violent end to his long legal career, as the Daily Mail reports.

The judge's suicide occurred as federal agents attempted to arrest him in connection with a $63,000 bribery matter involving a family dispute he oversaw during his tenure as a prosecutor in Orange County.

Allegations Of Bribery Tied to Legal Career

Rosenwasser, who previously served as a judge and prosecutor in New York, faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and extortion. The accusations stemmed from his involvement in a case involving Mout’z “Marty” Soudani, a man who allegedly paid Rosenwasser $63,000 to prosecute his family members in a dispute over the theft of nearly $2 million.

The federal investigation revealed that Rosenwasser had a long-standing relationship with Soudani, having represented him in legal matters dating back to the 1990s. When Soudani’s nephew, Martin, and sister, Eman, were accused of stealing $1.9 million from him, Rosenwasser allegedly took the bribe to press charges against them. Martin later pleaded guilty to taking $1.6 million and served two months in jail, while the charges against Eman were dropped.

FBI Arrives As Rosenwasser Allegedly Fires Shots

As FBI agents arrived at Rosenwasser’s home early Tuesday morning to arrest him, the situation quickly escalated. According to reports, Rosenwasser fired shots at the federal agents before turning the gun on himself. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The FBI released a brief statement confirming that they are investigating the incident. "The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents seriously," the statement read. "The shooting incident is under review by the FBI's Inspection Division."

Bribery Investigation Tied to Family Dispute

Rosenwasser’s involvement in the bribery case became public after Mout’z Soudani accused his nephew and sister of stealing money from him in October 2022. Although Eman was cleared of all charges, Martin Soudani admitted to taking $1.6 million, leading to a brief jail sentence.

The bribes that Rosenwasser allegedly accepted from Soudani allowed him to influence the case, according to federal investigators. Rosenwasser had also advised Soudani not to send any more text messages regarding the case to avoid leaving a trail of evidence.

One of Rosenwasser’s text messages to Soudani stated, “I won’t text anymore. Anything you want to tell me, call me. That’s it. I will call you tomorrow.”

Federal Charges and Legal Fallout

The retired judge’s legal troubles began earlier this year when he was interviewed by the FBI in June about his involvement in the bribery scheme. Three days after the interview, Rosenwasser resigned from his position in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, where he had served as a prosecutor for five years. His resignation came amid growing suspicion and investigations into his handling of the Soudani case.

Rosenwasser faced multiple charges, including making false statements to the FBI. The legal fallout from the bribery case is still unfolding, with Martin Soudani’s legal team now pursuing post-conviction relief. They are also considering filing a $22.5 million lawsuit against Rosenwasser and several other officials for malicious prosecution.

Career Ends In Tragedy After Prominent Legal Work

Before his fall from grace, Rosenwasser enjoyed a distinguished legal career. He served as a county court judge and an acting New York state Supreme Court Justice from 1999 to 2006, gaining a reputation for his tough stance on violent crime, earning him the nickname “Maximum Stew.”

Despite his reputation for being tough on crime, Rosenwasser resigned from the bench in 2006, citing dissatisfaction with his salary. He returned to the legal field as a prosecutor and continued to work in the Orange County D.A.’s office until his resignation in June of this year.

Son Questions Reporting on Tragedy

In the aftermath of Rosenwasser’s death, his son, Jason Rosenwasser, spoke to the media about the conflicting reports surrounding the circumstances of his father’s death. Jason, who also works as a prosecutor in the Orange County D.A.’s office, expressed concern about the way the incident was being portrayed in the news.

“The only thing I feel compelled to point out 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,” Jason said.

Orange County District Attorney Reflects on Loss

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler also expressed his condolences, describing Rosenwasser’s death as a heartbreaking conclusion to a tragic situation. “It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way,” Hoovler said. “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”

In addition to the personal toll, Rosenwasser’s death raises questions about the integrity of several cases he oversaw during his time in the D.A.’s office. Some of those cases are now under review as the investigation into the bribery scandal continues.

Reputation Marred by Bribery Allegations

Rosenwasser’s involvement in the bribery case has shocked many in the legal community, where he was once regarded as a principled and determined prosecutor. In November 2022, he was even named “Arson Prosecutor of the Year” for his work in Orange County. However, the bribery allegations have cast a shadow over his legacy, with federal investigators now questioning whether Rosenwasser’s decisions in other cases may have been influenced by similar corrupt practices.

Rosenwasser’s family, including his daughter Rachel, an attorney, has remained largely silent about the case, preferring to focus on the private aspects of their grief as they come to terms with the tragic events surrounding his death.