Retired New York judge kills himself as FBI arrives on doorstep of his expensive home
A former prosecutor and retired judge committed suicide Tuesday as the FBI arrived at his New York home to arrest him.
Stewart Rosenwasser died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an FBI raid on his Campbell Hall home.
Law enforcement sources said ABC News that authorities had visited his home as part of an investigation into a corruption case.
According to the FBI, a gunfight ensued between Rosenwasser and agents.
The agency said: “The FBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred earlier this morning in Campbell Hall, NY. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents seriously.
“In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting is being investigated by the FBI’s Inspection Division. Since this is an ongoing case, we have no further details to provide.”
Stewart Rosenwasser died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an FBI raid on his Campbell Hall home
Police sources told ABC News that authorities arrived at his home as part of an investigation into a corruption case.
According to the Times Union, Rosenwasser is expected to face legal action soon over $48,000 in bribes he allegedly accepted.
According to the site, he had accepted money from a certain Mout’z “Marty” Soudani, whose cousin Martin Soudani was involved in a $1.9 million embezzlement scheme that Rosenwasser was appealing.
The lawsuit, which will be filed by Martin’s attorney, alleges that Martin’s conviction was the result of a scheme between Rosenwasser and his uncle.
His lawyers sought damages by challenging the legality of the conviction and requesting that the sentence be quashed.
Just hours after his death, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York released an indictment against the two, accusing them of bribery.
Prosecutors allege that Rosenwasser accepted even more than was alleged in the lawsuit, totaling $63,000.
The two were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and honest services wire fraud.
Rosenwasser was also charged with extortion and making false statements to the FBI after his June hearing.
Three days after his interrogation, he abruptly resigned from the Public Prosecution Service, where he had worked for five years.
This is a current news item.