Former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby was sentenced to one year of home detention on Thursday, May 23, 2024, for her convictions related to perjury and mortgage fraud.
U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby handed down the sentence of three years of supervised release but opted against sending Mosby to prison, despite prosecutors seeking a 20-month prison term.
Mosby’s defense team, led by Federal Public Defender James Wyda, argued against imprisonment, stressing that her crimes were not related to her role as a prosecutor and that she had already faced significant consequences, including losing her job and potentially having her law license revoked.
Wyda also highlighted the impact of incarceration on Mosby’s daughters and presented letters from their therapist and a scholar discussing the effects of maternal incarceration on children.
Maintaining her innocence, Mosby chose not to speak in court.
Her defense team emphasized her right to appeal her convictions and her pursuit of a pardon. Mosby’s supporters testified on her behalf, and her defense team cited her appearances on news programs where she proclaimed her innocence and alleged politically motivated prosecutions against her.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney argued for prison time, characterizing Mosby as unremorseful and lacking regard for the truth.
Delaney highlighted Mosby’s public statements and her role as a former prosecutor, emphasizing the importance of truthfulness in the justice system.
Mosby’s convictions stem from separate federal trials in Greenbelt, Maryland, where she was found guilty of perjury and mortgage fraud.
Prosecutors accused her of lying about financial consequences due to the pandemic to withdraw funds from her retirement account early and using them for down payments on properties in Florida. Mosby’s defense team successfully argued for a separate trial for her real estate-related charges.
Before sentencing, Judge Griggsby ordered Mosby to forfeit her Florida condo due to her mortgage fraud conviction, ruling that she had obtained the property through fraudulent means.
Mosby’s lawyers requested a hold on the forfeiture pending her appeal, but the judge ordered the government to return a portion of Mosby’s investment in the property.
Mosby’s case has garnered significant attention, with her supporters alleging biased prosecution and advocating for a pardon from President Joe Biden.
However, prosecutors and the judge emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the justice system.
Mosby plans to appeal her convictions while also seeking a presidential pardon, and her case underscores broader discussions about prosecutorial discretion and accountability.
