Oxnard Man Faces Federal Charges in String of Armed Robberies

A Ventura County man is now in federal custody after being named in a criminal complaint that specifically charges him with using a gun to rob a food truck in Oxnard and alleges that he committed four other armed robberies.

Oscar Silva, 30, of Oxnard, was transferred to federal custody Tuesday after he was arrested on local charges on December 7.

The federal case charges Silva with Hobbs Act robbery, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Silva made his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon in United States District Court, where he was ordered detained and was directed to appear for an arraignment on January 22.

According to an affidavit filed last week with the federal complaint, Silva committed a series of five armed robberies between November 6 and November 23 in Oxnard and Ventura.

Silva allegedly robbed two street food vendors, a smoke shop, and a convenience store in Oxnard. He also allegedly robbed a female pedestrian near Mission Park in downtown Ventura, taking her purse and credits cards. He later used credit and debit cards stolen from the female pedestrian’s purse to purchase items worth several hundred dollars, the complaint alleges. Silva allegedly brandished a firearm and threatened his victims during each of the robberies.

The investigation into Silva is being conducted by the Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ventura Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.