Former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva is facing federal charges of bank fraud and identity theft.
Silva was charged by federal prosecutors for actions related to an alleged fraudulent loan application for the Paycheck Protection Plan five years ago.
The big picture: Silva applied for Paycheck Protection Plan loans in 2020 for his business Indoor Adventures. The loans provided $17,000 for his business.
- Prosecutors allege Silva falsely claimed on the application that another person owned 85% of his company in order to hide his role as majority owner. Program rules prohibited business owners who had recent felony convictions from applying for the loans.
Flashback: Silva served as the Mayor of Stockton from 2013 to 2016 and was convicted of a felony in 2019 for conflict of interest stemming from his time as mayor.
- He pleaded guilty to sending city tax dollars to the Boys & Girls Club of Stockton, which he was in charge of.
- His conviction was later reduced to a misdemeanor and expunged in 2022.
What we’re watching: Silva faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted.
What he’s saying: Silva told ABC10 that the charges are about the continuing power struggle between different factions in Stockton and are political retaliation.
- “As a Republican Mayor, I have been a political target for over a decade,” Silva told ABC 10. “Each time, the media fuels smoke without fire. I stand with President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, and I have confidence that Interim U.S. Attorney Eric Grant will review these allegations fairly.”
