[ad_1]
Federal court documents allege Anthony Silva unlawfully got a Paycheck Protection Program loan by submitting a fraudulent loan application.
STOCKTON, Calif. — Former Stockton mayor Anthony Silva is facing federal charges of bank fraud and identity theft after obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan.
According to documents filed in the United States District Court, Eastern District of California, the alleged crime took place around April 2020.
Federal prosecutors allege Silva unlawfully got a PPP loan by submitting a fraudulent loan application.
Silva told ABC10 the charges are politically motivated.
“This case is about the continuing power struggle between different factions in Stockton. It’s nothing more than political retaliation,” Silva said. “As a Republican Mayor, I have been a political target for over a decade. 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.”
According to court documents, federal prosecutors allege Silva received the loan by submitting a PPP loan application for Indoor Adventures LLC and said an individual identified as Person 1 owned 85% of the business. He also allegedly said that no 20% or more owner of the business had been convicted of a felony within the last five years.
Silva ended up receiving a $17,000 loan, which was then forgiven after he completed a PPP loan forgiveness application.
The government says Silva was the owner, founder and CEO of Indoor Adventures and that ‘Person 1’ was an associate of his with no ownership interest in the company.
Per terms of PPP loan applications, they are to be denied if ‘a 20% or more owner of the applicant business had been convicted of, or placed on probation for, a felony within the previous five years.’
Silva was convicted of a felony in 2019 – within five years of the loan application.
Silva was mayor between 2013-17 and faced several allegations during that span of time, including one that he defrauded the Stockton Kids Club out of millions of dollars. He was the CEO of the organization at the time.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conflict of interest as part of a plea deal. His sentence included 90 days in jail, more than $19,000 in restitution to a kids charitable organization and three years probation.
ABC10: Watch, Download, Read
[ad_2]