Former Baltimore state's attorney Marilyn Mosby has been convicted on two counts of perjury by a federal jury after a trial that took place in Greenbelt, Maryland. The charges stemmed from allegations that Mosby lied about the finances of her side business to improperly access retirement funds during the Covid-19 pandemic, using the money to purchase two properties in Florida.

The trial, which began on Monday, concluded with the jury delivering its guilty verdict on Thursday. Mosby, who served two terms as Baltimore's state's attorney, was indicted on perjury charges by a federal grand jury before being defeated in the Democratic primary last year.

James Wyda, one of Mosby's lawyers, refrained from commenting on the verdict due to a gag order. The US attorney's office also did not provide a comment on the outcome of the trial.

Mosby rose to national prominence for prosecuting Baltimore police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, a Black man who died while in police custody in 2015. However, none of the officers were convicted, leading to widespread protests and riots in the city.

The former state's attorney did not testify in her own defense and her attorneys rested their case on Wednesday. After the verdict, Mosby left the courthouse without making a statement, simply saying, "I'm blessed. I don't know what else to say," as she entered a waiting car.

In addition to the perjury charges, Mosby also faces separate allegations of mortgage fraud. The trial date for those charges has yet to be determined.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Mosby reportedly withdrew $90,000 from Baltimore city's deferred compensation plan. She continued to receive her full salary of approximately $250,000 that year.

According to the indictment filed in 2022, Mosby allegedly accessed retirement funds improperly by falsely claiming that her travel-oriented business, Mahogany Elite Enterprises, suffered financial losses due to the pandemic. Prosecutors argued that Mosby was not entitled to access the funds under the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. They asserted that Mosby's business had no clients or revenue and did not experience any adverse financial consequences from the pandemic.

Prosecutors claimed that Mosby used the withdrawn retirement funds as down payments to purchase a home in Kissimmee, Florida, and a condominium in Long Boat Key, Florida.

Assistant US attorney Sean Delaney characterized the case as one where Mosby prioritized her own selfish interests over the truth. He made this argument during the opening statements of the trial.

Mosby's defense argued that she was legally entitled to withdraw the funds and spend them as she saw fit. Her federal public defender, James Wyda, maintained that Mosby had told the truth when certifying on paperwork that her business had been devastated by the pandemic. Wyda contended that Mosby had established her business with the intention of empowering women of color in the business world.

While the trial moved from Baltimore to Greenbelt, Maryland, due to concerns about Mosby receiving a fair trial in her hometown after years of negative media coverage, US District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby approved the venue change. Prosecutors opposed the move, highlighting that Mosby had actively sought and encouraged coverage of the case.

Mosby's conviction on perjury charges serves as a significant blow to her once-esteemed career as a state's attorney and further adds to the legal challenges she currently faces. The sentencing for the perjury convictions will be determined at a later date, while the trial for the separate mortgage fraud charges is still pending.