Richard Silberman

A native of San Diego, Silberman graduated from San Diego State College with a degree in physics. In 1946 he earned his master's degree from Ohio State University. He led Convair's electronic and computer guided missile program until 1952, when he was named president of Kay Lab.{{cite news |last1=Blair |first1=Pat |title=A Look Into the Future |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CJ19540916.2.33&srpos=2&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22Richard+Silberman%22+%22San+Diego+State%22------- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Coronado Eagle |date=September 16, 1954}} In 1960, Silberman and Charles E. Salik began selling stock in Electronics International Capital, a business based in the tax haven of Bermuda that was formed to invest in European electronics companies. After some poor investments, Silberman hired Paul Erdman to help turn things around. Silberman and Salik were eventually removed from the company in a coup orchestrated by Jerome Kohlberg Jr.{{cite news |last1=Potter |first1=Matt |title=Richard T. Silberman tapped Paul Erdman for offshore activity |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2007/may/03/jailbirds/ |access-date=2 March 2023 |work=San Diego Reader |date=May 3, 2007 |language=en}}

In 1965, Silberman became a general partner of Jack in the Box and helped finance the expansion of the fast food chain. In 1968 the company was sold to Ralston Purina for $58 million. Soon thereafter, Silberman and Jack in the Box founder Robert O. Peterson purchased First National Bank. In 1975 the bank was sold to The Bank of Tokyo, which renamed it again as Union Bank.{{cite news |title=On Whom Does Brown Rely Upon For Advice |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19791108.1.5&srpos=1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=November 8, 1979}} After leaving the governor's office, Silberman became a chairman and chief executive officer of Yuba Natural Resources Inc..

Silberman's political involvement began in 1963, when he was appointed to the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education. He later served as chairman of the San Diego Stadium Authority.{{cite news |last1=Acuna |first1=Armando |title=Silberman's Business Instincts Made Him Rich, Political Savvy Made Him Powerful |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 8, 1989}} In 1975, Silberman backed mayor Pete Wilson for reelection and Wilson appointed Silberman to chair the Centre City Development Corp. and the San Diego Transit Authority.

Silberman served as financial chairman for California Governor Jerry Brown's 1976 presidential campaign. The following year, Brown appointed Silberman to the position of state secretary of Business and Transportation.{{cite news |title=Brown Picks Former Campaign Aide As Business, Transporation (sic) Head |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19770429.1.4&srpos=4&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=April 29, 1977}} In 1978 he served as Brown's interim chief of staff while Gray Davis managed the Governor's reelection campaign.{{cite news |title=Brown mobilizes for re-election |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19780222.1.2&srpos=1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Press Democrat |date=February 22, 1978}} Later that year, Brown appointed Silberman to the position of state Director of Finance.{{cite news |title=Brown Names New Finance Director |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19781130.1.5&srpos=48&e=-------en--20--41--txt-txIN- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=November 30, 1978}} He stepped down in August 1979 to serve as co-chair of Brown's 1980 presidential exploratory committee.{{cite news |title=Brown picks two |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19790827.2.27&srpos=5&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Desert Sun |date=August 27, 1979}}

In 1984, Silberman married Republican politician Susan Golding.{{cite news |last1=Corbett |first1=Bob |title=Golding, Silberman married |work=The San Diego Evening Tribune |date=July 23, 1984}} Silberman's marriage to Golding led to him and Robert O. Peterson severing ties, as one of Golding's political rivals was Peterson's wife Maureen O'Connor. Silberman and Golding divorced in 1991.{{cite news |last1=Smolens |first1=Michael |title=Golding seeks divorce from Silberman |work=The San Diego Union |date=August 21, 1991}}

In 1979, the Internal Revenue Service sought $278,982 in back taxes from Silberman and his ex-wife. The agency alleged that Silberman had over-valued 917 acres of land he and four associates had donated to a non-profit.{{cite news |title=IRS after Silberman |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19790913.2.42&srpos=1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Desert Sun |date=September 13, 1979}}

On April 7, 1989, Silberman was arrested on money laundering charges. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Silberman had agreed to launder over $1 million he believed came from Colombian cocaine traffickers.{{cite news |last1=Callen |first1=Kate |title=Prominent Democrat arrested on money-laundering charges |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/04/07/Prominent-Democrat-arrested-on-money-laundering-charges/6702607924800/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=UPI |date=April 7, 1989}} On June 28, 1990, Silberman was found guilty on one count of violating currency reporting laws. However, the jury was unable to return a verdict on five other counts.{{cite news |title=Silberman guilty on at least 1 count |work=Orange County Register |date=June 29, 1990}} That September he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder purported drug profits in exchange for the government dropping the other four charges. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison.{{cite news |title=Silverman sentenced |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19900925.1.15&srpos=4&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN- |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Press Democrat |date=September 25, 1990}}

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Category:American food industry businesspeople

Category:American people convicted of money laundering

Category:American technology businesspeople

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Category:Ohio State University alumni

Category:San Diego State University alumni

Category:Chiefs of staff to the governor of California

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government