After hours of deliberation, a jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, reached a verdict on Thursday, finding Marilyn Mosby guilty on both federal perjury counts. The jury returned to federal court on Thursday morning after receiving the case the previous afternoon, following instructions from the judge and nearly three hours of closing arguments. The verdict was announced shortly after 4 p.m.

Mosby, the former Baltimore City state's attorney, was indicted in January 2022 on perjury and mortgage fraud charges. The trial for the mortgage fraud charges will be held separately. For each of the two counts of perjury, Mosby faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.

Prosecutors argued that evidence presented during the trial proved that Mosby had lied about a COVID-19 financial hardship to illegally withdraw $90,000 from a restricted city retirement account. The defense countered, claiming that Mosby did not lie and that her private travel business had indeed suffered financial losses.

During closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky emphasized the importance of telling the truth and accused Mosby of committing perjury to gain personal profit. Zelinsky claimed that Mosby took advantage of the world's suffering during the pandemic to purchase $1 million worth of Florida vacation homes. He further argued that Mosby's travel business had no income, customers, emails, vendors, or business plan, suggesting that it was not a legitimate operation.

Mosby's lead attorney, federal public defender James Wyda, strongly defended his client, stating that the case revolved around a three-page form and Mosby's state of mind when filling it out. Wyda argued that Mosby genuinely believed she qualified for the benefits, as her business had taken a significant hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trial faced several delays due to various reasons, including the withdrawal of all six defense attorneys allowed by a federal judge. A public defender was appointed, and the trial was eventually scheduled for October 2023.

Following the jury's verdict, Mosby, while leaving the federal courthouse, simply stated, "I'm blessed, I have nothing else to say." Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barron released a statement respecting the jury's decision and emphasizing their commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the civil rights of all Americans.

The guilty verdict on the federal perjury charges marks a significant development in the case against Mosby, who was once a prominent figure in Baltimore's legal system. As the trial for the mortgage fraud charges approaches, Mosby's legal troubles are far from over.