Cops celebrate as Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby faces 40 years behind bars for mortgage fraud

Following the fraud conviction of Marilyn Mosby, law enforcement circles celebrated amid their decade-long feud
The former Baltimore prosecutor was particularly scathed for her handling of the controversial 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody
Police officers argued the damage her tenure had on the city's relations are still evident today in the crime-ridden city

Law enforcement circles are celebrating the fraud conviction of former top Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby, who for a decade feuded with police in her city and had several other brushes with the law.

The two-term Democrat former state attorney now faces up to 40 years in prison after being convicted on Tuesday of using a bogus COVID hardship claim to tap into her retirement funds to buy a luxury condo in Long Boat Key on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Mosby's critics now say they 'can't wait' to see her behind bars after her 'failed leadership' undercut the police department, exacerbating the city's soaring crime rates.

'The consequences of that failed leadership are going to last for generations,' Medal of Valor recipient and police officer Dave Goitia told DailyMail.com. 'The victims are the people of Baltimore that suffer violent crime because of a police department that is completely demoralized.'

Marilyn Mosby, the former top prosecutor in Baltimore, faces up to 40 years in prison after being convicted on Tuesday of using a bogus COVID hardship claim to tap into her retirement funds to buy a luxury condo in Long Boat Key on Florida's Gulf Coast

Former police sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith added that she 'can't wait' for Mosby's sentencing, condemning the impact her tenure had on police relations in her city.

In particular, Mosby was criticized for her handling of the controversial death of Freddie Gray in 2015, whose death in police custody sparked riots and looting across the city until Mosby brought charges against six police officers who arrested him.

After she failed to convict any of the cops amid claims the charges were unjust - and the DOJ declined to press charges after a federal investigation - some in law enforcement argued she caved to pressure from rioters and targeted the officers as 'sacrificial lambs.'

Mosby also had her own brushes with the law, including a $45,000 tax lien on one of her fraudulent Florida properties despite reportedly earning almost $250,000 a year.

Mosby was sharply criticized in law enforcement circles over her handling of the 2015 death of Freddie Gray (pictured), who died in police custody. Mosby failed to convict any cops involved, and a judge was said to have 'laughed her out of court'

Gray's death sparked riots and looting across Baltimore, resulting in 113 police officers injured, and 486 people arrested, as critics argued Mosby caved to pressure to bring charges unjustly

Gray's was arrested for possessing a knife.

Mosby charged the six officers involved, including charging the driver of the police van with murder.

It later emerged that Mosby had close ties to Gray's family attorney, who had donated $4,000 to her election campaign and held a role on her transition team. The relationship fueled questions over whether the criminal charges were an overstep.

Her handling of the charges was quickly questioned by former Baltimore Deputy Stater Attorney Page Croyder, who wrote in a scathing Op-ed for the Baltimore Sun that her investigation 'ignored' key elements that would have changed the narrative.

'Any prosecutor interested in the truth and in justice would have used all the tools at her disposal to find them. Ms. Mosby ignored them,' she wrote.

'She has one of the most experienced homicide prosecutors in the state of Maryland as chief of her homicide unit, but did not ask him to investigate. She had the police report all of one day before filing charges, her mind already made up.

Officer William Porter's (left) 2016 case ended in mistrial before charges against him were dropped. After a judge found Officer Edward Nero (right) not guilty, charges against Officer Garrett Miller were also dropped

Officer Ceasar Goodson (center), the driver of the van, was found not guilty on murder charges in 2016. Lt. Brian Rice (right) was found not guilty by a judge on assault and misconduct charges, before Sgt. Alicia White (left) had her charges dropped

'And she failed to make use of the grand jury to gather, probe and test the evidence before a group of average citizens.

This is a situation which called for an investigation, and she did not use all of the tools available to her to do a completely thorough investigation.'

Following her conviction for fraud this week, the controversial case returned to focus - with Front Page Magazine running a headline: 'Marilyn Mosby finally gets a conviction. Her own.'

'Finally, justice has been done.'

Goitia, currently the president of the Glendale Police Department's Fraternal Order of Police organization, said he knew the officers involved and they 'never recovered.'

Officer Goitia, who received a Medal of Valor in 2007 for risking his life for a fellow officer in a daylight shooting, told DailyMail.com that the bungled case had a ripple effect through not only how the public perceives cops, but how officers became fearful over their everyday tasks.

Officer David Goitia (left), pictured receiving his Medal of Valor in 2007, told DailyMail.com Mosby's handling of the controversial case led to 'consequences that will last generations'

Mosby had several notable clashes with law enforcement during her tenure, including an alleged tax scandal and branding dozens of Baltimore cops 'discredited' in an effort to expunge almost 800 criminal cases in 2019

'This is a case study in how you destroy a city... I think (Mosby) knew the truth but intended to sacrifice those officers, but what a bad miscalculation.'

In 2019, Mosby notably clashed with law enforcement again as she launched an effort to expunge almost 800 criminal cases, citing 25 of the city's police officers for being 'discredited.'

'Those officers were sacrificed, because (Mosby) and city leaders felt like that was needed... to satisfy the mob.'

Goitia celebrated Mosby's recent conviction as he felt her handling of the case hampered law enforcement efforts across the country.

'The consequences of that failed leadership are going to last for generations,' he said, adding some of his own officers were afraid of going to work in the aftermath of the Gray charges.

'If you've got a police department that is ineffective, that is not empowered and supported by the public to uphold law and order, then you've got officers who are afraid to act.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13061437/marilyn-mosby-verdict-fraud-baltimore-cops-state-attorney.html