On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the New York Post reported that Stewart Rosenwasser, a former judge in New York, was implicated in a significant bribery scandal that culminated in his tragic death following a confrontation with FBI agents. Rosenwasser, 72, allegedly took his own life during a shootout with federal agents who had come to arrest him at his residence.

According to a federal indictment, Rosenwasser was involved in a bribery scheme that saw him receive $63,000 over nearly two years from his co-defendant, Mout’z Soudani, a wealthy restaurateur. The payments, which included numerous checks labeled as “loans,” were part of a trail of evidence connecting Rosenwasser to the criminal activities during his tenure as a prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The indictment details how Rosenwasser and Soudani engaged in clandestine meetings, including one at a local diner in November 2022 where Soudani allegedly handed Rosenwasser a check for $15,000. These payments were reportedly made in exchange for Rosenwasser fabricating an embezzlement case against Soudani’s sister and nephew, who were accused of stealing $1.6 million from him.

Federal prosecutors outlined how Rosenwasser, who had known Soudani for nearly 40 years and previously represented him in court, assured Soudani of his commitment to pursuing the case against his relatives. Text messages between the two reveal a troubling dynamic, with Rosenwasser promising to put “maximum effort” into the investigation. In one exchange, he informed Soudani that he had arranged an audit of bank records, to which Soudani responded with assurances of gratitude.

In March 2023, the nephew and sister of Soudani were charged with grand larceny, with Rosenwasser serving as the lead prosecutor in their case. However, the defense raised concerns regarding a potential conflict of interest due to Rosenwasser’s prior relationship with Soudani. Despite these concerns, Rosenwasser denied any conflict, stating he did not recall representing Soudani and downplaying his connection to the family.

The investigation revealed that Rosenwasser had received at least $25,000 in bribes by the time the defense raised the issue of conflict. The payments continued, including a series of ten money orders for $1,000 each in May 2023, which Rosenwasser deposited shortly after. As scrutiny increased within the District Attorney’s office, Rosenwasser was removed from the embezzlement case in June 2023.

The legal proceedings against Soudani’s relatives began to unravel, resulting in the dismissal of charges against Eman Soudani, while her son Martin entered a guilty plea, leading to a prison sentence of one to seven years. Despite the escalating legal troubles, Rosenwasser continued to cash checks from Soudani, including a $15,000 check as late as January 2024.

On June 18, 2023, Soudani reportedly confessed that Rosenwasser had instructed him to make payments in cash or by money order to avoid detection. Following their indictment, the situation took a tragic turn when Rosenwasser opened fire on FBI agents at his home during the arrest attempt, ultimately leading to his death.

 

 

Source: New York Post