Jury selected in Marilyn Mosby mortgage fraud trial

baltimore — Twelve jurors and four alternates were seated late Thursday in Marilyn Mosby’s mortgage fraud trial.

The case follows two days of questioning of a panel of 70 potential jurors in federal court in Greenbelt.

There were also technical problems, including monitors in the media monitoring room going black just before jurors were selected.

Opening statements in the case are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday morning.

Her financial records are among the evidence jurors are likely to consider, as well as former personal text messages made available to the government. Some of the materials presented at her perjury trial in November can be viewed here.

Jurors will likely focus on the purchase contract for her Florida vacation home.

Prosecutors have access to communications between Mosby and people handling her mortgage

In one exchange, Mosby wrote, “Now that we’ve found a home, we need pre-approval paperwork.”

Then, when she ran into problems closing the loan, she said, “There’s a solution that allows you to take $7,000 out of your retirement account if you want.I don’t want to do that, but if you want, you can.” ” he texted.

When she took possession of the property, she thanked the My Easy Mortgage employees for welcoming her as a “Florida homeowner.”

But prosecutors allege Mosby knowingly violated the law by failing to disclose more than $45,000 in tax liens.

She claims she knew nothing about the lien and blames her ex-husband, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby.

He may testify in this case.

The former Baltimore City State’s Attorney also agreed to “maintain exclusive control” of the property, not renting it out, but entering into a short-term rental agreement with the property management company. That document can be viewed here.

The government said Mosby signed the loan documents with the “full understanding that making false statements on mortgage documents is a federal crime punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.” The article states that the offense is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison or a $1 million fine. , or both. “

Mosby currently faces up to 60 years in prison on both counts, but it is highly unlikely he will receive that long if convicted.

Public defender James Wajda, who represents the former Baltimore City state’s attorney, appeared in court with her on the second day of jury selection.

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren asked Mosby if he expected jurors to be seated Thursday. She replied that she was “expecting” before entering the courtroom.

Court is not in session Friday.

Several potential jurors said they had already heard about Mosby and her legal troubles, including some who saw the WJZ coverage.

Mosby felt her reputation in Baltimore did not allow her to receive a fair trial, so she successfully petitioned to have the trial moved to Greenbelt in Prince George’s County.

The mortgage fraud trial could last into the first week of February.

In November, Mosby was found guilty of perjury in a related case.