Crime · Turlock, CA
Antonio Honorato Silveira, 50, a Turlock resident and Stanislaus County tax preparer, pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $7 million. The scheme began in 2011, promising annual returns of 13% to 17% through signed promissory notes while Silveira lost money trading stocks and diverted funds for personal expenses. Between 2019 and 2025, nearly 90 investors gave him approximately $11.03 million, with about $3.84 million used as false returns to earlier investors. When the scheme collapsed in 2025, Silveira owed investors roughly $7.19 million, and more than 25 victims lost retirement savings, college funds, or were forced to sell homes. He faces up to 20 years in prison with sentencing scheduled for February 2027.
Local Politics · Turlock, CA
Turlock Police issued a trespass admonishment to mayoral candidate Kelley Coelho after she allegedly refused to leave a stand-up comedy performance at Westside Ministries on Sunday night. Pastor JoLynn DiGrazia requested the police response, stating that Coelho disrupted the event by campaigning and yelling despite being asked to refrain from electioneering. Officers responded to the scene, explained trespassing laws, and confirmed Coelho left the property without further incident. Coelho claims the request to leave was retaliatory due to her investigation into a past real estate transaction involving DiGrazia.
Community News · Stanislaus County
Gasoline prices in Stanislaus County dropped to an average of $5.85 per gallon, down from $6.02 the previous week. The lowest price reported was $5.28 at a Kwik Serve station in Modesto. Diesel prices also decreased slightly to an average of $8.44 per gallon. Despite these local declines, national averages remain higher than last year's levels.
