By Deborah Bailey
Contributing Editor
Marilyn Mosby, a former Baltimore City state’s attorney, will soon face a verdict in the second of two federal trials that will change the trajectory of her life.
The 44-year-old rose to power as the youngest state’s attorney of a major city in 2015. Just months later, Mosby was thrust into the national spotlight when she led a controversial investigation and ultimately charged six Baltimore City police officers in Freddie Grey’s death.
Now, the former Baltimore prosecutor is awaiting the verdict in a federal mortgage fraud trial held in the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., that concluded on Feb. 1. Federal prosecutors have charged Mosby with making seven false statements to two mortgage companies during real estate transactions in Florida.
Mosby took the stand to testify in her own defense Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. When her attorney asked why she was willing to testify in the second of two trials about false statements to secure real estate in Florida she responded, “I regret not testifying before and I want this jury to hear my truth,” according to court transcripts.
Mosby was found guilty of two counts of perjury in her first trial before a U.S. District Court in November, for falsely claiming Covid-19 hardships in making two withdrawals of $40,000 and $50,000 from her deferred compensation fund.
Mosby’s second trial focuses on real estate fraud charges stemming from purchases of a house in Kissimmee, Florida, in September 2020 and a condominium in Longboat Key, Florida, in February 2021.
Prosecutors claimed Mosby lied on the mortgage application for the Florida properties by saying she had no tax liability, one of seven allegedly false statements made on the applications to secure the Florida home and condo.
During her testimony, Mosby shared details about her climb to power as one of the youngest state’s attorneys in the nation at the time she won election to office in November 2013, and details of a stormy period in her marriage to City Council President Nick Mosby, who testified for the defense in the second trial.
Nick Mosby – now the defendant’s ex-husband – testified that he lied about the then-couples’ tax liability, claiming he entered an installment agreement to repay the tax debt. He also made public statements insisting the $45,000 tax lien had been “taken care of” as he did during a press conference after his election as Baltimore City Council chairman in November 2020.
Marilyn Mosby filed for divorce from Nick Mosby in July 2023 after 17 years of marriage. The couple issued a joint statement after the filing saying: “After careful consideration and much prayer we have decided to end our marriage. Our dedication to our family and community remains unwavering.”
The divorce was finalized in November 2023.
In her second day of testimony, Mosby said that her mortgage broker completed the forms needed to purchase the two homes in Florida. She stated that she was inexperienced in real estate transactions and relied on the mortgage broker to complete the forms. “My Easy Mortgage populated it,” she said about the mortgage documents that prosecutors claim contain several untrue statements, including concealment of the tax debt.
Mosby’s supporters from Baltimore filled the Greenbelt courtroom over the course of the second trial.
“Spending a few days at the trial was an educational experience for myself and the many supporters,” said Baltimorean Hakki Ammi.
“Marilyn took the stand and expressed that she had been misled by the mortgage broker,” he added.
The verdict in the second trial is expected next week, and is in all likelihood expected to be handed down on Feb. 5.
Mosby’s supporters plan to be in the Greenbelt courtroom on Feb. 5 prepared for whatever happens.
“Lawyers, churches and civic groups should be present to observe this case. There needed to be a groundswell of supporters showing up,” said Ammi.
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