Ex-Orange County judge fatally shoots himself during FBI raid at his home, sources say
Rosenwasser was allegedly under federal investigation for tax evasion. Agents were attempting to take him into custody when shots were fired at his residence on Route 416, sources say.
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News 12 has learned that a retired Orange County judge and former Orange County executive assistant district attorney, Stewart Rosenwasser, died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday after an exchange of gunfire with FBI agents at his residence in Campbell Hall, according to several official sources.
The FBI issued a statement saying, ‘The FBI is reviewing an agent-involved shooting that occurred earlier this morning in Campbell Hall. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents seriously. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division.”
Rosenwasser was allegedly under federal investigation for tax evasion, and agents were attempting to take him into custody, when shots were fired at his residence on Route 416, sources say.
As News 12 first reported last week, the former official was also being sued for $22.5 million for allegedly taking bribes to prosecute a crypto currency case last year during a dispute involving members of a family tied to a Rockland County unsolved murder in the 70s.
Rosenwasser had a legal career that spanned decades. He was a private attorney for years and was an Orange County assistant district attorney in the 1970’s. He served as an Orange County Court judge and acting Supreme Court justice for six years, and was rehired by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in 2019 as special counsel for policy research to aid with discovery reform.
He abruptly resigned last June citing his intent to “retire from the practice of law.”
Legal papers in the civil matter against Rosenwasser and the county were filed last week. The district attorney’s office says other cases the former prosecutor handled were reviewed and nothing improper was found.
