STOCKTON, Calif. — Former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva is facing new federal charges, this time involving bank fraud and identity theft tied to CARES Act funds.
According to court papers obtained by KCRA 3 Investigates, Silva allegedly applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans in 2020 and 2021 using another person’s identity to secure $17,000 under the business name “Indoor Adventures.” Federal filings claim Silva misrepresented this individual as owning 85% of the company and stated falsely that no one affiliated with the business had ever been convicted of a felony.
However, Silva himself had pleaded no contest in 2019 to a conflict of interest charge, receiving a 90-day jail sentence and three years of supervised release. That case involved his use of government funds for a Stockton Kids’ Club he was affiliated with, money that had been earmarked for the Boys & Girls Club of Stockton.
This is not Silva’s first controversy. During his time in office, KCRA 3 Investigates reported that a firearm registered to him was stolen and later used in a 2015 shooting that killed 13-year-old Rayshawn Harris. Silva did not report the gun missing until a month after the teenager’s death.
Federal authorities also allege that Silva sought and obtained forgiveness for the fraudulent CARES Act loans. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, restitution, and fines of up to $1 million.
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