Indictment claims Mosby falsified mortgage application documents
Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of perjury related to a COVID-19 financial hardship withdrawal and a false statement on a loan application.
A federal grand jury is charging Mosby on federal charges of perjury and making false mortgage applications, relating to the 2020 purchases of two vacation homes in Florida.
According to the four-count indictment, Mosby claimed to have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to withdraw from the city's Deferred Compensation Plan on two separate occasions, receiving $40,000 and $50,000.
But documents show she continued to receive her full salary during the pandemic, which was a gross salary in 2020 of $247,955.58 and it was never reduced, but according the documents actually increased.
The indictment alleges Mosby falsely certified that she met at least one of the qualifications for a distribution as defined under the CARES Act, specifically, that she experienced adverse financial consequences stemming from the coronavirus as a result of "being quarantined, furloughed or laid off" or "having reduced work hours" or "being unable to work due to lack of child care or "the closing or reduction of hours of a business I own or operate".
In signing the forms, Mosby "affirm(ed) under penalties for perjury the statements and acknowledgments made in this request."
Lawyers for Mosby told local news outlet, " Marilyn Mosby is innocent, has been innocent, and we look forward to defending her in the court of law, and presenting evidence of her innocence to a jury of her peers."
Mosby does not have to step down from her office while the case plays out.
If convicted, Mosby could face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each of two counts of perjury and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for each of two counts of making false mortgage applications. Her initial appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled.