A Stoneham man was arrested following an explosion that targeted an ATM in Woburn last month. Christopher James Silva, 43, faces charges of maliciously damaging property by means of an explosive. The WCVB reported that according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Silva was identified on surveillance footage committing the act.
The incident occurred on September 4 at the Eastern Bank on Mishawum Road. Allegedly seen on camera, Silva wore distinctive attire, including a blue balaclava, yellow glasses, and a black jumpsuit with orange markings. In the footage, he is purported to place an object at the base of the ATM, which then smoked and exploded, significantly damaging the machine. Days after the incident, the aforementioned clothing was discovered in a parking lot nearby, with a Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab Forensic Scientist matching DNA samples to Silva.
Yesterday, October 29, a law enforcement collaboration executed a search warrant at Silva's residence. Citing an FBI spokesperson, the MassLive article mentions that during this search, items of clothing matching the suspect's from the night of the vandalism were found. Also discovered was Silva's cell phone, on which he had allegedly searched for articles about the ATM explosion that occurred at the bank he is accused of targeting.
Silva was taken into custody without incident and arraigned in federal court on Wednesday. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Callahan detailed in an affidavit that, if convicted, Silva could face up to 20 years in prison. During his initial court appearance, Silva agreed to be detained pending his case, where he confronts serious federal charges for his alleged role in the ATM vandalism.
