Former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, currently serving a one-year home detention sentence following her convictions for mortgage fraud and perjury, is facing new legal scrutiny after attending a barbecue held in her honor.
The event, which took place over the weekend in Clarksville, Maryland, has raised concerns about whether Mosby violated the terms of her court-ordered detention.
Mosby was sentenced to home confinement earlier this year after being convicted of making false statements on loan applications to purchase two vacation properties in Florida and for falsely claiming financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic to access funds from the city’s retirement account.
As part of her sentence, Mosby is restricted to her home in Fells Point, Baltimore, with exceptions made only for specific pre-approved activities, such as medical appointments, court appearances, and child care responsibilities.
On Thursday, Mosby posted a video on Instagram showing her attending the “thank-you barbecue,” surrounded by family, friends, and supporters.
The video reveals Mosby wearing an ankle monitor, indicating that she is under home detention. However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland has confirmed that Mosby did not file any requests or receive permission to attend the event, leading to questions about a potential violation of her detention terms.
Federal guidelines for home detention typically require strict adherence to approved activities, and any deviation must be pre-approved by the court.
According to the conditions set forth, Mosby is allowed to leave her residence only for employment, child care, medical, or legal reasons, with travel outside these purposes needing explicit approval.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicated that while some exceptions exist for employment or child care-related requests, attending a social event like the barbecue is not typically permissible without prior court approval.
This incident comes at a critical time for Mosby, whose legal team recently filed an appeal seeking to overturn her convictions. In their filing, Mosby’s attorneys argue that her prosecution was flawed and that she was unfairly targeted, though they stopped short of alleging racial or political motivation.
Mosby’s legal troubles began when federal prosecutors charged her with mortgage fraud and perjury, accusing her of withdrawing funds from her retirement account under false pretenses during the pandemic and using those funds as down payments on Florida properties.
Additionally, prosecutors alleged that Mosby made false statements on her mortgage applications, including failing to disclose a $5,000 gift from her husband, former Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, which played a significant role in her mortgage fraud conviction.
As Mosby continues to challenge her legal fate in the appeals court, her recent attendance at the barbecue may further complicate her situation, potentially leading to additional legal consequences for violating the terms of her home detention.
