Anthony Silva, Wire Fraud Aggravated Identity Theft Mail Fraud, New Hampshire 2022

CONCORD, NH – Anthony Silva, 37, of Hampton, is facing a reckoning after pleading guilty to a pair of brazen fraud schemes that stretched across state lines. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that Silva admitted to charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and mail fraud, a trifecta of financial crimes fueled by stolen personal information and a network of sham charitable accounts.

The first scam, hatched in late 2021, involved Silva pilfering the identities of unsuspecting victims – names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth – and using them to apply for 15 American Express credit cards. Not content with simply using stolen data, Silva went the extra mile, submitting fake driver’s licenses featuring the victims’ information but superimposing his own photograph. Surveillance footage from retailers like Walmart, Victoria’s Secret, and Home Depot captured Silva making purchases with the fraudulently obtained cards, a digital trail leading directly back to him.

But the credit card scheme was just one piece of Silva’s operation. Between April 2020 and May 2021, he targeted state unemployment insurance systems in Vermont and Massachusetts. Utilizing the identities of numerous individuals, Silva filed fraudulent claims, directing the resulting payments – issued as checks – to addresses under his control. The money wasn’t going to those in need, however; it was being funneled into 32 separate trust accounts at Citizens Bank, ostensibly established as charitable organizations – a cynical attempt to disguise the illicit funds.

Federal investigators, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service, unraveled Silva’s complex web of deceit. The investigation revealed a calculated effort to exploit vulnerable systems and individuals for personal gain. The scope of the fraud is significant, with Silva now facing a hefty restitution order of $699,496.14 to repay his victims. He will also forfeit the trust accounts used to launder the stolen funds.

Silva is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2023, where he will likely hear the full weight of the law for his actions. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kennedy are prosecuting the case, determined to ensure that Silva is held accountable for the financial damage and emotional distress he inflicted on his victims.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of identity theft and the lengths to which criminals will go to exploit vulnerable systems. Law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to combat these schemes, but vigilance and proactive protection of personal information remain crucial for individuals and organizations alike. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.

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