Convict is accused in mailed threats

The indictment by the grand jury came three days after a federal judge in Winston-Salem, N.C., sentenced Silvera to 13 years and nine months in prison on the fraud and child pornography charges. The sentence includes a 10-year term of supervision once he is released.

In a court filing, Silvera confessed that he bought "two to five thousand" credit card numbers on the Internet for $5 apiece. Silvera said that he traded a laptop computer and an Xbox game for the child pornography with a person named "Three Elves," whom he met while discussing Satanism in an Internet chatroom.

When authorities arrested Silvera at a North Carolina hotel, they found more than 500 images of child pornography on his computer, according to Secret Service Agent Craig A. Williams.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Joseph, who prosecuted the case there, described Silvera as "one of the most unusual persons I've ever run across."

Silvera wrote a letter stating "that while it was very profitable committing this fraud, he got great enjoyment out of suffering from other people," Joseph said.

A psychological evaluation of Silvera was filed in the case but is sealed. His attorney, Thomas N. Cochran, did not return a call yesterday.

Contact staff writer John Shiffman at 215-854-2658 or jshiffman@phillynews.com.