CONCORD, NH – Anthony Silva, 39, of Hampton, is facing a significant prison sentence after admitting to a complex web of fraud schemes that siphoned over $2.1 million from state and federal programs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Silva pleaded guilty today to three counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Silva wasn’t just hitting one program; he systematically exploited multiple avenues for illicit gain. Using stolen personal information – names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers – Silva filed fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits in both Vermont and Massachusetts. He then expanded his operation to include fraudulently obtained American Express credit cards and, crucially, funds earmarked for pandemic relief through the CARES Act.
The scope of Silva’s greed is staggering. He raked in over $400,000 from Vermont’s unemployment system, exceeding $150,000 from Massachusetts, and a hefty $600,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The stolen credit cards were used for over $50,000 in purchases at retailers like Victoria’s Secret and Walmart. While he attempted to secure an additional $1.35 million in CARES Act funding, that attempt failed. The total intended loss across all schemes topped $2.1 million.
Federal investigators discovered Silva wasn’t just using his own name. He established numerous bank accounts – many under the names of unwitting victims or entirely fictional organizations – listing himself as a trustee. This deliberate obfuscation was intended to conceal the flow of stolen funds and complicate the investigation. More than $825,000 in assets will be forfeited to the United States government as a result of the guilty plea.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service, revealed Silva’s calculated manipulation of vital programs designed to help those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy are leading the prosecution. Silva is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott.
The wire and mail fraud charges carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the schemes. Adding to that, the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least two years. The final sentence will be determined based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes. Anyone suspecting COVID-19 related fraud can report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through their online complaint form: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Related Federal Cases
- Anthony Silva, Fraud Schemes, New Hampshire 2024 · Pennsylvania
- Anthony Silva, Wire Fraud, New Hampshire 2024 · Massachusetts
- Anthony Silva, $2M Heist, Massachusetts 2023 · Massachusetts
- Anthony Patterson Charged with Social Security Fraud, New Bedford MA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Arnold Hanson, Bank Fraud, NH 2024 · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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