A former Lauderdale-by-the-Sea commissioner, who once played Santa Claus for the town, has been sentenced to five years in prison for possession of child pornography, NBC Miami reported. James Jude Silverstone, 63, must begin his sentence on June 28, following a Broward County investigation that uncovered his illegal activities.
The investigation, which started in April 2023, exposed Silverstone after a computer was found downloading over 210 files of illicit content, upon minutes the detectives pinpointed the ex-fire chief as the suspect as detailed by CBS Miami. Agents raided his Miramar home in May 2023, where they confiscated multiple electronic devices brimming with hundreds of videos and photos, some depicting children as young as infants.
Following his incarceration, Silverstone is set for a 20-year term of supervised release and is mandated to register as a sex offender, a stark fall for someone who used to be a key figure in the community, representing town governance and even embodying the holiday spirit as Santa.
