Former Orange County, New York prosecutor Stewart Rosenwasser died in an apparent suicide at his home as federal agents arrived to arrest him for allegedly accepting bribes. A federal indictment unsealed on the same day alleged that Rosenwasser accepted at least $63,000 in bribe payments while serving as chief counsel to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. When the FBI arrived at his home, Rosenwasser allegedly pointed a gun at the agents, leading to an agent firing a shot. Rosenwasser then barricaded himself and apparently took his own life.
The indictment also alleged that Rosenwasser used his position to investigate and prosecute individuals at the request of his co-defendant, a self-proclaimed millionaire and former restaurant owner. The co-defendant allegedly paid Rosenwasser $15,000 by check in November 2022 and continued to make bribe payments until May 2024. Rosenwasser was accused of trying to hide his criminal conduct by lying to senior leadership at the district attorney’s office.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler expressed his condolences to Rosenwasser’s family, calling the situation “truly heartbreaking.” Rosenwasser had received awards during his time in the district attorney’s office, including the Arson Prosecutor of the Year Award. He quietly resigned in June prior to his arrest. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on the case.
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