Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Stoneham resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly using an explosive device to damage an ATM at Eastern Bank in Woburn, Massachusetts. The indictment was announced on November 20, 2025.
Christopher Silva, 43, faces one count of maliciously damaging by means of an explosive real property used in and affecting interstate commerce. He was arrested and charged by complaint in October 2025 and remains in custody awaiting trial. Silva is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Boston on December 9, 2025.
According to charging documents, the incident occurred shortly after 4:00 a.m. on September 4, 2025. It is alleged that Silva approached the ATM while wearing a blue balaclava and black jumpsuit, placed an explosive device on the machine, and then ran away before it detonated. The explosion caused significant damage to the ATM’s frame and lower right section. Authorities allege that Silva was identified through DNA evidence and surveillance footage.
If convicted of maliciously damaging property with explosives, Silva faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: "The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law." Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; as well as local police departments from Woburn and Stoneham contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm from the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
