Cudahy mayor resigns amid corruption probe By Ruben Vives Los Angeles Times Staff Writer July 3, 2012, 6:21 p.m. The mayor of Cudahy has resigned after he and two other current and former city officials were charged in late June with federal bribery, officials said Tuesday evening. The resignation of Mayor David M. Silva was announced at the start of a standing-room-only City Council meeting. "The news of this resignation brings an end to a term of public service by Mr. Silva," Vice Mayor Frank Gurule said as he read from a statement inside the council chambers. It's unfortunate this news comes on the heels of some alleged criminal activity. People in the audience cheered as Gurule announced the resignation. Silva, Councilman Osvaldo Conde and Angel Perales, the former head of code enforcement, are accused of taking $17,000 in bribes from a marijuana dispensary owner, who was working as an FBI informant. The officials, who were arrested on June 26, allegedly took the bribes in exchange for their help in opening a store in the southeast Los Angeles County community, according to federal authorities. Conde remains on the City Council, but he was not at the meeting Tuesday evening. About 100 people filled the Cudahy council chambers. Some held signs, including one that said "Justice 4 Cudahy." Less than a week after the Cudahy arrests, Santa Fe Springs Councilman Joseph Serrano Sr. agreed to plead guilty to one federal count of felony bribery in connection to similar allegations that he repeatedly shook down a dispensary operator who was working as an FBI informant.