Bombshell documents in the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby’s $6.3 million court battle against the people who ran her church’s finances revealed shocking new details about the TV personality's feud with her estranged family.
Mary, 52, and her husband Robert Cosby Sr., 72, along with their church, Faith Temple Pentecostal Church, sued defendants Annie L. Johnson, Shawn Turner and United Security Financial, Inc. (USF), for alleged embezzlement back in September 2024.
In the lawsuit, the Cosbys alleged two church executives – including United Security Financial, the for-profit business owned by the church – took millions of dollars of loans from their church for personal use, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
After the defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss on December 17, 2024, the Bravo star filed a Memorandum In Opposition to Motion to Dismiss a month later.
As part of the filing, exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, she cites a 27-year-long court battle with her estranged family as one of the exhibits that has been secretly brewing leading up to season two of RHOSLC.
Back in 1997 - after Mary's grandmother passed away from heart failure - the reality star's estranged mom, Rosalind Cazares, along with her siblings Ernest Walton, Pamela Jean Cosby, Deborah Brainich, Demetrius Cosby and Samuel Cosby, were all embroiled in a family war over the matriarch's estate.
RHOSLC star Mary Cosby is embroiled in a messy $6.3 million lawsuit against the executives of her church, Faith Temple Pentecostal Church
Mary and her husband Robert Cosby Sr. alleged in the lawsuit, which was filed in September 2024, that the two church execs embezzled millions of dollars of loans from their church for personal use
In new filings, the Bravo star revealed bombshell details about her estranged family (pictured Mary's father Mark Cazares and mother Rosalind Cazares in 2022)
Rosemary Cosby, as RHOSLC fans are aware, is Mary Cosby's late grandmother, who was previously married to Mary's now-husband Robert.
In the bombshell filings, the family revealed that they were 'torn apart' over her will and inheriting any of their mother's multi-million dollar wealth.
In one letter to the court, filed January 2022, Pamela pleaded with the court to help her settle the dispute between her, her sisters and brother.
The letter to the judge reads: 'We have all been separated for over 20 years soon after our mother passed on January 4, 1997.
'Judge, I desperately want to get my whole family back together again.
'Judge Lawrence, if we can find out the truth, our family can start to heal, to forgive, and to love each other once again.'
In another letter from Ernest Walton, filed February 2021, he informed the judge that Mary Cosby is a star on the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and in one of the episodes, she said that 'Rosemary Cosby left everything to her because she said in the will my mother Dr. Rosemary Cosby wanted her to have what she Mary Cosby didn't have growing up.'
He ended the letter by asking for a copy of the will: 'We would like to see the will.'
Mary inherited her grandmother's wealth, which was passed to Robert Cosby Sr. after her grandma - who was previously married to Mary's now-husband - passed away in 1997
Mary had explained on RHOSLC that when her grandmother passed, she left her her empire, including 'homes, churches, daycares, a mortgage company and restaurants'
Mary's estranged family has argued in court, as part of a 27-year-long court battle, that they 'never' got a copy of the will and questioned whether Robert 'destroyed the will'
In one of the last letters, filed October 2022, Ernest again wrote to the judge in an attempt to get answers about the will about how he felt his 'civil rights were violated' and how he believes it was 'from negligence' from several people, including Robert and Mary Cosby and Lois Johnson.
He went on to say that he believes Lois Johnson was 'trying to steal the mortgage company,' United Security, which is what the Bravo celebrity is arguing in court currently.
He ended this letter by stating he was informed that his sister Pamela received a phone call in 2021 from the court about the case being closed.
'I ask, where is the justice for me and my family?' he questioned the court.
When called for comment, Ernest told DailyMail.com on January 21 that his family 'never saw the will' and insisted Robert Cosby and Lois Johnson 'destroyed the will.'
'They took everything from us. We didn't get nothing,' he insisted.
Ernest, however, is not blaming Mary, whom he and his siblings have been estranged from since the passing of his mom - despite having watched her flaunt her wealth on TV.
'I don't blame her. I blame Robert Cosby because he's the one that got everything and stole everything from us.'
Mary and her son Robert Cosby Jr. had a heart-to-heart conversation in a November episode in which he confessed to taking a number of different drugs since he was 16
Robert Cosby Jr. broke down in tears as he also confessed his past suicidal thoughts
He appeared to even side with her in her current fight against the church execs, calling Lois Johnson 'the biggest crook' and claiming 'she lied and said she owned United Security.'
When asked if he's still seeking justice three years after his last attempt and still hoping to see a copy of the will, he told DailyMail.com, 'Well, I believe that fight's over with. Everybody moved on with their life.'
DailyMail.com has reached out to attorneys for Robert Cosby Sr., Mary Cosby and Lois Johnson for comment.
Defendants in Mary’s embezzlement lawsuit argued in their December 17, 2024 filing that the plaintiffs claim Faith Temple owns United Security Financial is a 'wildly false statement.'
In their filing, they said, 'The fact that Johnson was and is the sole owner of USF was long-ago resolved in legal proceedings related to the estate of Rosemary Cosby filed more than twenty-five years ago, on February 11, 1997.
'The filings in the Cosby Estate Case establish (among other things) that the statute of limitations on any claim to ownership of USF has long run, and any claim to ownership was barred by res judicata years ago.'
In the January 16 opposition to the defendants' Motion to Dismiss, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Mary and Robert Cosby fired back.
'Defendants' claim that Faith Temple's claim for ownership of USF is somehow precluded is without support,' they stated.
'In addition, Ms. Johnson was acting as an agent of Faith Temple with respect to any bidding on a claimed ownership interest of the Estate in USF.'
As part of one of the exhibits filed in the Cosbys' opposition, they provided a document from 2006, a report from the special master, who provided a detailed summary of the breakdown of the stipulated assets Robert had received as part of the Estate of Rosemary Cosby.
The documents state that United Security Financial was operated by Lois Johnson and that 'the minutes of the annual stockholder meetings indicate that Lois Johnson is the only stockholder.'
The evidence, all in all, was 'summarized to be highly conflicting. Since neither Lois Johnson nor United Security Financial were parties to this litigation they cannot be bound by a finding herein.'
The special master appointed by the judge continued, 'It is true that her testimony is highly suspect.'
The other noteworthy stipulated assets that were outlined in the document - that were part of the Estate of Rosemary Cosby which was handed down to Robert Cosby - included a 14K gold ruby and diamond ring, a 14K yellow gold Boston link chain, 18K gold ruby and diamond cross, pearl necklace with diamond clasp, Omega diamond watch, full length mink coat, mink jacket and stole, fox jacket and throw.
When Mary was introduced to the cast during season one of the show, she explained that when her grandmother passed, she left her her empire, including 'homes, churches, daycares, a mortgage company and restaurants.'
She and her husband also own a number of businesses, including a successful printing company that produces billboards and shopping bags.
In a preview for the RHOSLC season five reunion, Mary provides an update on her son Robert, who revealed his drug addiction in a past episode
The three-part RHOSLC season five reunion kicks off on January 22 at 8/7c on Bravo
Robert Cosby was noticeably absent the entire fifth season of RHOSLC.
During an October appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Mary informed host Andy Cohen that he was holding a grudge against producers, but not Andy, himself.
'He’s good. He’s a man and they hold grudges,' she shared. 'But once he gets over his grudge, he’ll be better and he’ll probably show his face.'
Even though her husband was missing from the show, Mary's son Robert Cosby Jr., 21, made multiple appearances as he opened up about his drug abuse.
During the November episode, Mary and her son had a heart-to-heart conversation and he confessed to taking a number of different drugs - including cocaine and Xanax - since he was 16.
He also revealed he suffered with suicidal thoughts during the heartbreaking conversation, which touched a lot of fans of the show including superstar Rihanna.
As teased in the reunion preview, the reality star provides an update on her son, which leaves the cast teary-eyed.
The three-part RHOSLC season five reunion kicks off on January 22 at 8/7c on Bravo.
