A former mayor of Stockton who had been expected to plead guilty Tuesday in a federal fraud and identity theft case declined to do so, citing issues that arose Monday night regarding his agreement with prosecutors.
Anthony Silva, whose scandal-plagued tenure included two criminal cases in addition to the federal charges he faces, was accused last summer of lying on applications for COVID-era business relief funds known as Paycheck Protection Program loans, or PPP loans.
He initially pleaded not guilty in federal court in Sacramento, but late last week, prosecutors informed U.S. District Court Judge John Mendez that they had reached an agreement with Silva…