Ex-New York Prosecutor Indicted For Bribery Died As FBI Came To Arrest Him

Stewart Rosenwasser, a former high-ranking assistant district attorney in Orange County, New York, died by apparent suicide on Tuesday (September 24) morning as the FBI arrived at his home to arrest him on bribery and other charges. Rosenwasser, 72, had been under investigation for allegedly accepting $63,000 in bribes.

Rosenwasser was accused of using his authority in the prosecutor's office to initiate a criminal investigation at the request of a millionaire former restaurant owner. The indictment alleges that Rosenwasser received the bribery payments largely in the form of checks or money orders starting in 2022.

When the FBI arrived at Rosenwasser's home in Campbell Hall, a senior retirement community, to arrest him, Rosenwasser reportedly pointed a gun at agents. At least one shot was fired by the FBI before Rosenwasser barricaded himself and apparently took his own life. The FBI's Inspection Division is currently reviewing the incident.

Rosenwasser had served as the ex-chief counsel to the Orange County DA's office and executive assistant district attorney. He received multiple awards during his time in the district attorney's office and resigned from the office in June. He was scheduled to appear in federal court in White Plains on Tuesday afternoon.

Orange County DA David Hoovler expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, "It's truly heartbreaking that it ended this way. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family."