Former NY prosecutor takes his own life during FBI raid.
A bizarre and deadly scene broke out this week at the swanky home of a New York judge who took his own life after the FBI showed up at his door.
According to ABC7, retired Judge Stewart Rosenwasser took his own life as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after federal agents came to his home to arrest him.
The situation unfolded at the judge and former prosecutor's Orange County home on Tuesday morning, the reports indicated. The judge was living in a luxury senior retirement community.
The 72-year-old NY judge had been under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in the amount of $63,000.
🇺🇸FORMER JUDGE KILLS HIMSELF DURING FBI ARREST ATTEMPT IN NY CORRUPTION CASE
Stewart Rosenwasser, a former prosecutor and retired judge in Orange County, NY, died by suicide Tuesday as FBI agents arrived at his home to arrest him in a corruption case.
Rosenwasser was under… pic.twitter.com/sglY0NxvcC
— AN-94 Reports (@an94reports) September 24, 2024
The judge reportedly entered into a brief shootout with an FBI agent before taking his own life after barricading himself inside the home.
The outlet noted:
A federal grand jury indicted Rosenwasser on bribery charges, accusing him of launching an investigation in 2022 when he was working in the District Attorney's office to help a longtime associate. The man, known as Marty Soudani, accused his nephew of stealing nearly $2 million from him.
During the investigation to help his former associate, the prosecutor reportedly said, "I'm putting maximum effort into this. We will utilize all available assets."
In other documents, it was noted that the former prosecutor told his associate, "I will always protect you. And help you."
The FBI released a statement in the wake of Rosenwasser's death.
"The FBI is reviewing an agent-involved shooting that occurred earlier this morning in Campbell Hall, NY. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents seriously," the statement read.
It added, "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."
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, the deceased judge's former boss, also released a statement.
"It's truly heartbreaking that it ended this way," Hoovler said in a statement to USA Today. "My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”