By Mekhi Abbott
mabbott@afro.com
Maryland State Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby speaks during a news conference on Oct. 11, 2022, in Baltimore. The former top prosecutor was convicted Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, on one count of mortgage fraud, concluding a lengthy criminal trial in which Mosby testified she unwittingly made false statements on loan applications to buy two Florida vacation homes. Credit: AP Photo / Julio Cortez
After a day of deliberation, former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby was found guilty of making false statements to a mortgage lender by federal jurors in the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md. on Feb. 6.
The jury acquitted Mosby of fraud regarding the first of two properties she purchased in Florida, but ultimately convicted her over false statements made to acquire the second.
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Maggie Grace, a member of Mosby’s defense team, spent over 30 minutes giving a closing statement in defense of the former State Attorney on Feb. 5. On the same day, dozens of people arrived in support of Mosby to the court in Greenbelt, Md. via bus from Baltimore. Some arrived with signs that displayed their displeasure with the case. The supporters took time to engage in a prayer circle prior to entering the building.
Mosby rose to prominence in Baltimore when she became the youngest chief prosecutor of a major American city. She was responsible for prosecuting the six police officers who were involved in the arrest and eventual death of Freddie Gray Jr. in 2015, drawing the ire of many.
Mosby was married for 17 years to Nick Mosby, who currently serves as president of the Baltimore City Council. The two finalized their divorce late last year.
During the marriage, Nick Mosby fell into some financial trouble, which included defaulting on student loans, tax problems and being behind on the mortgage. Marilyn Mosby’s defense team stated multiple times that she was not aware of the financial hole that they were in as Nick Mosby took it upon himself to be the “provider” and take care of all of the major bills, including taxes and the mortgage. Nick Mosby himself testified that he was lying to Marilyn about the taxes to keep the marriage afloat.
After being alerted of her then-husband’s tax problems, in 2019 Marilyn decided that when tax time arrived in 2020 she would file her taxes individually. In 2020 Mosby also closed on her own personal first house, which was located in Florida. Mosby owns two properties in Florida – a house in Kissimmee and a beach condo in Longboat Key.
Mosby claimed that she purchased the first home at the suggestion of her broker and realtor, Gilbert Bennett. She thought it was a great opportunity to not only have her own place, but also her own property in a “historically White area.”
The main issue that resulted from this purchase was the fact that Mosby signed a “second home rider” which allowed her receive a cheaper mortgage payment contingent on her using the house as a second place of residence. Instead, Mosby hired Executive Villas, a property management company, to rent the home to others when she wasn’t there. Records show that she booked her own stay via Executive Villas as well when she visited the property. Mosby claims she does not remember signing the second home rider and admitted to not reading all of the documentation when she was signing on the house.
Mosby was convicted of perjury in a separate trial back in November 2023 for the withdrawal of $90,000 from her own retirement funds, for which she used as a down payment on the homes. The prosecutors of that case argued that she falsely claimed that she was experiencing financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was awarded the money through a Cares Act program. Mosby has announced that she will be appealing that verdict.
When asked about the the portrayal of Marilyn Mosby throughout this case and if her character is being mislabeled, this is what Mark Hughes of Black Men Unifying Black Men had to say:
“My opinion is that the portrayal makes it appear as if she willfully committed mortgage fraud. I don’t believe that is the case. Yes, she signed various documents at settlement but mastery of the law in one area doesn’t equate to mastery in another area. Also, it’s hard not to wonder if this would have been prosecuted to this extent if she were someone else. I’ll leave it at that.”
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