Fremont man convicted of ‘despicable’ Grindr dating app assault

Amy Larson
·2 min read

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A Fremont man who used the dating app Grindr to meet his victim was convicted by a jury on a slew of charges this week, prosecutors said.

A San Francisco jury found 27-year-old Ronald Anthony Silveria guilty of first-degree robbery, false imprisonment by violence or menace, identity theft, assault, and false imprisonment.

“The jury’s verdict holds Mr. Silveria accountable for his despicable crimes,” District
Attorney Brooke Jenkins said on Monday.

At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Silveria met a man through the Grindr dating app. On September 15, 2022, they traveled in separate cars to a San Francisco motel where the victim had rented a room. Prosecutors described the victim as an “unsuspecting romantic partner.”

“After hanging out in the room for a while, Mr. Silveria pulled out a gun and tied the victim, who was naked, to the bed,” prosecutors said.

While the victim was still tied up, Silveria searched through the victim’s possessions and demanded the victims’ banking passwords.

The District Attorney’s Office wrote, “Silveria eventually agreed to release the victim if he withdrew $400 from an ATM. The victim agreed and Mr. Silveria allowed him to dress, then forced him to wipe down the room, and get into his car to drive to a nearby ATM. After taking the $400, Mr. Silveria refused to return the victim’s car keys and belongings.”

Silveria abandoned the victim in Emeryville at 4:30 a.m., stole the victim’s phone, iPad, and wallet, and drove across the Bay Bridge, according to prosecutors.

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“Mr. Silveria preyed on a man who was in a trusting, compromised, and vulnerable position,”
said Assistant District Attorney Edward Mario. “I thank the victim for his bravery in testifying and re-living traumatic life events.”

Silveria is currently in custody. He will face up to twelve years in state prison when he is sentenced on May 22.

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