A Delaware County man, named Cushmir McBride, 25, from Yeadon, PA, has been sentenced to 90 months in prison after pleading guilty to a series of attempted thefts involving explosives and ATMs. The sentencing also includes three years of supervised release, $417,463 in restitution, and a $300 special assessment, as McBride's actions not only damaged property but also posed serious risks to public safety, in an update brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The case, which concluded with U.S. District Court Judge Joshua D. Wolson passing the sentence, comes after McBride and two other individuals were indicted in April 2021 followed by a January 2022 superseding indictment; the three were involved in a conspiracy to use explosives to breach and rob ATMs during a time marked by civil unrest in Philadelphia, according to U.S. Attorney's Office. McBride's criminal endeavor unfolded amidst community tumult following a police shooting in October 2020 which, while followed by peaceful protests, also saw a surge in looting and violent incidents across Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Among the instances of the admittedly violent and dangerous crime spree, McBride and his co-defendants engineered a break-in at a Target in Port Richmond and detonated explosives at ATMs in Wawa stores and a Wells Fargo branch to misappropriate cash, tallying up to approximately $417,000 in stolen funds. "McBride and crew carried out a string of violent and dangerous crimes, looking to cash in with a bang," U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero stated in a briefing, mentioning the severity of such federal crimes and the hefty consequences that follow.
The investigation, a collaborative effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department, with additional help from Delaware State Police and Upper Chichester Police Department, exposed the reckless endangerment caused by McBride's actions; "McBride caused significant damage and endangered countless lives by recklessly blowing up ATMs with illegal explosive devices at least six times," Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF's Philadelphia Field Office conveyed the gravity of the offense. The prosecution of the case was led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert alongside Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne.
McBride's co-defendants, Nasser McFall and Kamar Thompson, had already faced their sentences, with McFall being sentenced earlier this year following a guilty plea last June, and Thompson pleading guilty in November 2021. The sentences for McBride and his accomplices serve as a notable reminder of the high stakes and severe repercussions that come with such brazen acts of crime.
