A former Orange County, New York, prosecutor accused of accepting bribery payments died in an apparent suicide at his home as federal agents arrived to arrest him, sources familiar with the matter told NBC New York.
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The FBI had arrived at the home of Stewart Rosenwasser to take him into custody Tuesday morning, the same day a federal indictment was unsealed alleging that he accepted at least $63,000 in bribe payments while serving as chief counsel to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and executive assistant district attorney.
Rosenwasser was indicted on charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, honest services wire fraud, extortion under color of official right, and making false statements.
Two sources familiar with the case told NBC New York that when the FBI arrived at Rosenwasser’s Campbell Hall home he allegedly pointed a gun at the agents. At least one shot was fired by the FBI, the sources said.
Rosenwasser barricaded himself and then apparently took his own life, according to the sources.
The FBI told the news station that its Inspection Division was “reviewing an agent-involved shooting.”
“As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide,” the agency said.
The indictment alleges that Rosenwasser used his authority in the district attorney’s office to investigate and prosecute two people at the request of his co-defendant and provide confidential information to the co-defendant, a self-proclaimed millionaire and former restaurant owner.
Rosenwasser allegedly seized money from the two individuals that would be paid to the co-defendant “as restitution,” the indictment states. The individuals are close relatives of the co-defendant.
The co-defendant allegedly paid Rosenwasser $15,000 by check in November 2022 and texted him a month later: “I give my word at the end you will be extremely more than happy.” The indictment alleges that the bribe payments continued until May 2024 and in total the co-defendant paid Rosenwasser at least $63,000 by money order, check and cash.
Federal prosecutors accused Rosenwasser of trying “to conceal his criminal conduct” by lying about the nature of his relationship with the co-defendant to senior leadership at the Orange County district attorney’s office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said in a statement that it was “truly heartbreaking that it ended this way.”
“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family,” he said.
Rosenwasser received several awards during his time in the district attorney’s office, including the Arson Prosecutor of the Year Award last year. He quietly resigned in June, NBC New York reported.
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