Former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby Convicted of Perjury in COVID-19 Fund Case
In a dramatic turn of events, former Baltimore state’s attorney Marilyn Mosby has been convicted of two counts of perjury in a trial that unfolded over the past week. The charges stemmed from allegations that Mosby lied about the finances of a side business, using the misrepresented information to access retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were purportedly utilized to purchase two homes in Florida.
The federal jury delivered the verdict on Thursday after a trial that commenced on Monday. Mosby, who served two terms as Baltimore’s state’s attorney, faced perjury charges following a federal grand jury indictment. This legal ordeal unfolded after she was defeated by a Democratic primary challenger last year.
Mosby’s legal representative, James Wyda, refrained from commenting, citing a gag order in place. The maximum prison sentence for each perjury count is five years, as stated by the U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron’s office.
The charges against Mosby stem from her withdrawal of $90,000 from Baltimore city’s deferred compensation plan in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Prosecutors argued that Mosby falsely claimed pandemic-induced harm to her travel-oriented business, Mahogany Elite Enterprises, to gain access to retirement funds. The funds were then allegedly used as down payments for a home in Kissimmee, Florida, and a condominium in Long Boat Key, Florida.
Despite her legal team’s argument that Mosby was entitled to withdraw and use the funds as she saw fit, prosecutors contended that her business had no clients, no revenue, and did not suffer adverse financial consequences from the pandemic. The jury sided with the prosecution, finding Mosby guilty of perjury.
Mosby also faces separate charges of mortgage fraud, with the trial date for those charges yet to be set.
The former state’s attorney gained national attention for prosecuting Baltimore police officers following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in 2015. However, none of the officers were convicted. Mosby’s 2022 indictment marked a stark departure from her previous role as a prosecutor, placing her in the defendant’s seat.
As Mosby awaits sentencing, her legal battles are far from over. The conviction has added significance given her high-profile career, marking a notable chapter in Baltimore’s legal and political landscape.
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