A former Orange County, New York prosecutor accused of accepting bribe payments died in an apparent suicide at his home as federal agents arrived to arrest him. Stewart Rosenwasser was indicted on charges including bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion, and making false statements. He allegedly accepted at least $63,000 in bribe payments while serving as chief counsel to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. When FBI agents arrived at his home, Rosenwasser reportedly pointed a gun at them and at least one shot was fired by the FBI. He then barricaded himself and apparently took his own life.
The indictment alleges that Rosenwasser used his authority to investigate and prosecute individuals at the request of a co-defendant, a self-proclaimed millionaire and former restaurant owner. The co-defendant allegedly paid Rosenwasser at least $63,000 in bribe payments by money order, check, and cash. Federal prosecutors also accused Rosenwasser of lying about his relationship with the co-defendant to senior leadership at the Orange County district attorney’s office.
The FBI is reviewing the agent-involved shooting, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on the case. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler expressed condolences to Rosenwasser’s family and described the situation as “truly heartbreaking.” Rosenwasser had received awards during his time in the district attorney’s office but quietly resigned in June before the indictment was unsealed.
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