PHILADELPHIA, PA — United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Cushmir McBride, 25, of Yeadon, PA, has been sentenced to 90 months in prison. Judge Joshua D. Wolson of the United States District Court also ordered three years of supervised release, $417,463 in restitution, and a $300 special assessment for McBride’s alleged involvement in using explosives near ATMs.
McBride, along with two others, faced charges in an April 2021 indictment and a January 2022 superseding indictment. In January of this year, McBride pleaded guilty to conspiracy to maliciously damage property used in interstate commerce by means of an explosive, aiding and abetting, and five counts of maliciously damaging property used in interstate commerce by means of an explosive.
The alleged crimes occurred in the days following the October 26, 2020, police shooting of Walter Wallace, Jr. in Philadelphia, which triggered protests and civil unrest, including looting and violence.
On October 28, 2020, McBride and accomplices Nasser McFall, 25, and Kamar Thompson, 37, allegedly targeted a Target store in Port Richmond, setting off an explosive device to access an ATM. The following day, they allegedly struck a Wawa on Richmond Street, using explosives on the ATM. The pattern continued with an alleged attack on another Wawa in Northeast Philadelphia on October 31, 2020, and another Wawa in Claymont, DE, on November 4, 2020. On December 2, 2020, they allegedly detonated an explosive inside a Wells Fargo ATM in Philadelphia. McBride was also charged with a March 2, 2021, incident at another Wells Fargo ATM in Philadelphia. The defendants allegedly stole approximately $417,000.
Thompson pleaded guilty in November 2021 to multiple charges, including conspiracy, malicious damage, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. McFall pleaded guilty in June 2022 and was sentenced to 78 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $256,083 in restitution.
“McBride and crew carried out a string of violent and dangerous crimes, looking to cash in with a bang,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Whether you rob a bank with a note, a store with a gun, or an ATM with an explosive, you’re committing a serious federal crime and should expect to be caught and prosecuted. As this defendant and his co-conspirators are learning, crime not only doesn’t pay, it can also cost you dearly.”
Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office stated, “McBride caused significant damage and endangered countless lives by recklessly blowing up ATMs with illegal explosive devices at least six times.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in cooperation with the Philadelphia Police Department, Delaware State Police, and Upper Chichester Police Department, investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.