Former Baltimore City State’s Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, has recently been convicted of one count of mortgage fraud. This comes after she testified that she unintentionally made false statements on loan applications to purchase two vacation homes in Florida. The verdict was announced on Tuesday evening, with the jury finding Mosby not guilty on a second mortgage fraud charge.
This is not the first conviction for Mosby, as she was previously convicted of two counts of perjury by a federal jury in November. She had falsely claimed financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to withdraw money from the city’s retirement fund. However, she has yet to be sentenced in either case and could face up to five years for each count.
The charges against Mosby stemmed from allegations that she claimed a pandemic-related hardship to access funds from her retirement account, which she then used as down payments on two properties in Florida. Prosecutors argued that she repeatedly lied on the mortgage applications, leading to the mortgage fraud charges.
Originally, Mosby’s mortgage fraud trial was supposed to take place in Baltimore. However, it was moved to Greenbelt, Maryland due to concerns that potential jurors may be biased by media coverage of the case. During the trial, both Mosby and her ex-husband, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, provided testimony. Nick Mosby admitted to lying about their federal tax debt out of embarrassment.
Marilyn Mosby maintained that she did not intentionally make any false statements and signed the loan applications in good faith. However, her failure to disclose the debt on her applications played a significant role in the mortgage fraud charges against her.
Prosecutors alleged during the trial that Mosby had lied about receiving a $5,000 gift from her then-husband, which helped her secure a lower interest rate. This gift ultimately led to her conviction, as prosecutors were able to trace it back to her account. In order to obtain a conviction, prosecutors had to prove that Mosby knowingly made a false statement that affected the mortgage application process.
It is worth noting that Mosby gained national attention for her role in prosecuting Baltimore police officers following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody in 2015. However, her recent conviction for mortgage fraud puts a stain on her reputation and raises questions about her integrity.
As a result of being found guilty of mortgage fraud, Mosby now faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years for the single count. This marks a significant downfall for someone who once held a prominent position in Baltimore’s legal system. Mosby’s conviction serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of their previous accomplishments or reputation.
