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A federal grand jury has indicted Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby on charges of perjury related to a COVID-19 financial hardship withdrawal and a false statement on a loan application.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment Thursday, charging Mosby on federal charges of perjury and making false statements on 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: “Rather than experiencing a reduction in income in 2020, Mosby’s gross salary in 2020 increased over her gross salary in 2019, which was $238,772.04,” the indictment states.
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.”
The indictment also alleges that Mosby made false statements on applications for a loan to buy a $490,500 home in Kissimmee, Florida, and a $428,400 mortgage to purchase a condominium in Long Boat Key, Florida, by not disclosing her federal tax liabilities.
She had unpaid taxes from several years, and in March 2020, the Internal Revenue Service placed a lien against her property.
The indictment alleges that by falsely executing a “second home rider,” Mosby could obtain a lower interest rate on the mortgage for the Kissimmee property than she would have received without it.
Mosby spoke Friday afternoon, giving a brief statement, but took no questions.
“I thought it was important to be seen and heard today for a number of reasons,” Mosby said. “I am innocent of the charges that have been levied against me and I intend to fight with every ounce of energy within my being to prove my innocence and to clear my name.”
She said the indictment against her will not distract her office from performing its duties and she will fight the charges.
“I am innocent, and I intend to do what I’ve always done when I became state’s attorney in the city that I love: fight,” Mosby said.
If convicted, Mosby faces 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.
