Pennsylvania Man 'Looking to Cash in with a Bang' Blew Up ATMs and Stole Over $400,000: Prosecutor

A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for using explosives to rob several ATMs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said Wednesday.

Cushmir McBride, 25, was originally charged in connection with the explosive incidents along with two others in April 2021, then by a superseding indictment in January 2022. In January of this year, he 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 first crimes took place in the immediate aftermath of two Philadelphia Police officers fatally shooting Walter Wallace, Jr. on Oct. 26, 2020. The shooting prompted both peaceful protests and "widespread incidents of looting and violence" in the following days, according to prosecutors.

On Oct. 28, 2020, McBride and co-defendants Nasser McFall, 25, and Kamar Thompson, 37, conspired to break into a Target store in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia and set off an explosive device in order to steal money from an ATM inside.

On Oct. 29, the defendants broke into a Wawa convenience store on Richmond Street, where they set off explosive devices in order to steal money from the ATM. On Oct. 31, they broke into another Wawa in Northeast Philadelphia and detonated an explosive device.

On Nov. 4, the defendants set off an explosive device in another Wawa in Claymont, Delaware, in an attempt to rob the ATM, and on Dec. 2, the defendants set off an explosive device inside an ATM at a Wells Fargo bank in Philadelphia. McBride was also charged with additionally setting off an explosive device at a Wells Fargo ATM in Philadelphia on March 2.

In total, the defendants were able to steal approximately $417,000.

“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 said in a statement. “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.”

Thompson pleaded guilty in November 2021 to conspiracy to maliciously damage property used in interstate commerce by means of an explosive, aiding and abetting, six counts of maliciously damaging property used in interstate commerce by means of an explosive, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

McFall pleaded guilty to five counts against him in June 2022, and in January of this year was sentenced to 78 months in prison plus three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $256,083 in restitution.

McBride was sentenced to 90 months in prison plus three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $417,463 in restitution, and a $300 special assessment.

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“McBride caused significant damage and endangered countless lives by recklessly blowing up ATMs with illegal explosive devices at least six times,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. “ATF is committed to protecting our communities from harm and working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt violent explosives-related activity. I want to thank the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Fire Marshals Office, Delaware State Police, Upper Chichester Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.”

TMX contributed to this report.