Bank Robbers Sentenced to Federal Prison
Defendants Sentenced as Career Offenders in Take-Over Bank Robbery in Gold Hill, Oregon

Medford, Ore. - Edward Jay Silva, 30, of Medford, Oregon, was sentenced today to the maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison for the September 7, 2005 armed robbery of the Washington Mutual Bank in Gold Hill, Oregon. Micah Joe Downing, 36, Cave Junction, Oregon, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison also for the same bank robbery. U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan sentenced both defendants as Career Offenders, which enhances the sentence for commission of a serious violent felony after two or more convictions for other serious violent felonies. Silva has three prior residential burglary convictions, all from Medford. Downing has two prior convictions for coercion and one for assault. Silva and Downing were both on parole from prison at the time of the bank robbery.

During the mid-day robbery, Downing served as the get-away driver, monitoring police radio frequencies on a scanner while Silva and another accomplice, Thomas Taylor, went to rob the bank. Silva was armed with a firearm and both were wearing wig and mask disguises. During the robbery, Silva brandished the firearm while giving orders to customers and bank employees, taking approximately $196,000 from tellers and from the bank vault. Both ran from the bank to the awaiting car where Downing drove them back to Silva’s residence in Medford. Silva and Downing fled to Mexico but were subsequently arrested after returning to the United States.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron Chatfield prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff’s office, the Medford Police Department, and the FBI. Further information can be obtained from AUSA Chatfield at (541) 776-3564.

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