Federal judge denies former State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's request to go to New Orleans

BALTIMORE — Former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby will not get to travel to New Orleans for a paid event that her lawyer described as an opportunity to promote Mosby’s consulting company.

U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby rejected Mosby’s request to travel while on home detention Friday in a one-page order.

Mosby sought to go to the Essence Festival of Culture for a paid contract position that would have involved speaking at the festival and covering an event there as a legal contributor on July 6 and 7.

The federal probation office opposed the request because its policies prohibit travel during the first two months of a defendant’s supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also opposed.

Mosby, 44, began serving a year of home detention last week, the start of her sentence for perjury and mortgage fraud convictions. Her sentence also includes an additional two years of supervised release.

Separate federal juries found Mosby guilty at two trials, concluding that she lied to withdraw $80,000 from her city retirement account early and then submitted a false “gift letter” when she bought a vacation condo in Florida with the money.

In a motion filed Thursday, Mosby’s lawyer, Federal Public Defender James Wyda, argued that the Essence Festival opportunity would help connect Mosby with other speaking engagements.

“This event is crucial to advancing Ms. Mosby’s consulting company, Mahogany Elite Enterprises, LLC,” Wyda wrote. “Through this company, Ms. Mosby will be offering her services to speak on issues of race, justice, and equality impacting black women. Her background and expertise as a former State’s Attorney in Baltimore make her an ideal speaker to address these issues confronting black women.”

Black Star Network offered Mosby a position as a legal contributor covering the “Essence Community Impact Hub” program at the festival, Wyda wrote. The program includes a live podcast on the empowerment of Black women and other discussions about civil rights activism and economic empowerment, he wrote.

Mosby was set to receive a fee and a stipend from the Global Black Economic Forum for travel and lodging expenses, according to the motion.

While on home detention, Mosby is restricted to her residence except for work, education, religious services, medical treatment, child care or other activities approved by her probation officer.

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