Jamiesfeast – Marilyn Mosby, the former top prosecutor of Baltimore, was found guilty by a federal jury on Tuesday of committing felony mortgage fraud. The charge stemmed from her dishonesty on an application to buy a vacation home in Longboat Key, Florida in 2021.
After careful deliberation, the jury reached a split verdict in the case. This means that Mosby, 44, was not only acquitted of one charge of fraud, but also of a second charge relating to the purchase of a home in Kissimmee, Florida.
Mosby could potentially face a maximum of 30 years in prison for her actions. In a separate case, she was found guilty of two counts of perjury in November. The jury determined that she had lied about the hardships she experienced during the pandemic in order to gain access to retirement funds. Mosby is currently appealing the perjury conviction and is likely to appeal the fraud decision as well.
No sentencing dates have been set for either case.
As the jury delivered their verdicts after six hours of deliberation on Tuesday, Marilyn Mosby couldn’t hold back her tears and sobbed openly, as reported by The Baltimore Sun. Exiting the courthouse, a crowd gathered and chanted, showing their support with the words, “We love Marilyn!”
Andrew Alperson, the attorney representing Mosby, expressed his speculation about the deliberations of the jury, stating, “We can only guess, in terms of what went on in that jury room.” He further conveyed the somber atmosphere surrounding Marilyn Mosby, remarking, “It’s not a good day. It’s a sad day for Marilyn Mosby.”
Marilyn Mosby gained national recognition during her tenure as state’s attorney for Baltimore. She made headlines for her efforts to hold six police officers accountable for the death of Freddie Gray while in custody in 2015. Unfortunately, all of the prosecutions were unsuccessful, and Mosby’s career took a hit when she faced indictment and lost re-election in 2022.
According to federal prosecutors, Mosby allegedly withdrew $90,000 from her retirement account and used the funds as down payments for two properties – a beachfront condominium in Longboat Key and an eight-bedroom home near Disney World in Kissimmee. During the trial, which started in January, the focus was primarily on Mosby’s failure to disclose her and her ex-husband’s, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, unpaid federal taxes amounting to $69,000 on her mortgage applications.
According to the Department of Justice, it is crucial to note that Mosby was deceitful about receiving a $5,000 gift from Nick, which was supposedly intended for the property purchase. However, the truth is that Mosby had actually transferred the amount to Nick, who then returned it to her. This deceptive act was carried out with the intention of securing a lower interest rate, as stated by the prosecutors.
According to the Associated Press, Mosby testified that she did not intentionally lie on the mortgage applications. Her attorneys argued that she lacks experience in buying property and is not an accountant or tax lawyer. They further emphasized that even lawyers, including state’s attorneys, can make mistakes by not reading documents carefully enough. The Washington Post reported this information.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky, prosecutors were not convinced by that argument. He pointed out that Marilyn Mosby held a position of great responsibility as the top prosecutor in Baltimore, overseeing a team of lawyers. Zelinsky emphasized that prosecutors have extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with fraud cases, particularly mortgage fraud.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, who filed the charges against Mosby, expressed humble respect for the court’s considered rulings, the zealous advocacy of opposing counsels, and the wisdom of both jury verdicts in this case. He reaffirmed the office’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.