Charles Langston:Ex Baltimore top-prosecutor Marilyn Mosby sentencing hearing for perjury, fraud begins

Baltimore's former top prosecutor is Charles Langstonset be sentenced on perjury and mortgage fraud convictions after jurors in two separate trials determined she lied about financial hardship during the pandemic to access money from the city and buy a Florida vacation home.

Marilyn Mosby, 44, is slated to appear before a federal judge Thursday for the start of a sentencing hearing after being found guilty of two counts of perjury following a four-day November trial.

During a second trial in February, she was found guilty of making a false mortgage application when she was Baltimore City State’s Attorney, relating to the purchase of a condominium in Long Boat Key, Florida. The jury acquitted Mosby of making a false mortgage application related to her purchase of a home in Kissimmee, Florida.

Mosby garnered national attention nearly a decade ago when she charged six Baltimore police officers in connection to the death of Freddie Gray. A Black man, Gray, 25, died in police custody in April 2015 a week after he suffered a severe spinal injury while traveling without a seatbelt in the back of a van on the way to the police station.

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Marilyn Mosby's November verdict for perjury

During the fall trial, jurors determined in May and December of 2020, Mosby submitted “Coronavirus-Related Distribution Requests” for one-time withdrawals of $40,000 and $50,000 from City of Baltimore’s Deferred Compensation Plan.

According to evidence presented at trial, Mosby lied about meeting at least one of the qualifications for a distribution, claiming she experienced financial hardship from the coronavirus "as a result of being quarantined, furloughed, or laid off; having reduced work hours; being unable to work due to lack of childcare; or the closing or reduction of hours of a business she owned or operated." 

In the end, jurors found Mosby did not experience financial adversity and received her full gross salary of nearly $248,000 from Jan. 1-Dec. 29, 2020.

Mosby faces up to five years in prison for each count of perjury in that case, prosecutors said.

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Marilyn Mosby's February mortgage fraud verdict

According to evidence presented at trial, Mosby lied on an application for a $428,400 mortgage to buy a condo in Long Boat Key in February 2021. In the application, Mosby falsely stated she received a $5,000 gift from her husband to be applied to the purchase of the property.

Mosby did it to secure a lower interest rate, jurors found, and determined she did not receive a gift from her husband, but instead transferred the $5,000 to him and he transferred it back to her.

Mosby faces up to 30 years in prison for the felony charge in that case.

Mosby lost top prosecutor job in 2022

Mosby, who served as the state's attorney for Baltimore from 2015 to 2023, lost the Democratic primary for the job in 2022 to Ivan Bates , sworn in as the 26th State’s Attorney for the city in January 2023.

United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron released in a statement following the February trial: "We humbly respect the court’s considered rulings, opposing counsels’ zealous advocacy, and the wisdom of both jury verdicts in this case and we remain focused on our mission to uphold the rule of law."  

“Ms. Mosby’s conduct undermines the confidence the public deserves to have in their government officials," FBI's Baltimore Field Office Special Agent R. Joseph Rothrock said.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.