Cushmir McBride was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for his involvement in a ring that blew up ATM machines and stole over $400,000 during protests in Philadelphia over the shooting of a 27-year-old citizen by a police officer. McBride, along with two others, pleaded guilty to detonating explosives inside ATMs at various locations from October 2020 to March 2021.
The group took advantage of the chaos and looting that occurred during the protests following the death of Walter Wallace Jr. They used illegal explosive devices, ranging from M-80 to M-1000, to blow up ATMs at stores like Target, Wawa, and Wells Fargo. The men stole approximately $417,000 in total.
Protests in Philadelphia became tense as people demanded accountability for Wallace’s death. The family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the city for $2.5 million in 2021. More than 90 people were arrested during the protests, and McBride, McFall, and Thompson were among those charged for their criminal activities.
The explosives used by the group were extremely dangerous and could have caused serious bodily injury or death. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives classified them as Illegal Explosive Devices. The men’s actions showed a blatant disregard for public safety and the rule of law during a period of civil unrest.
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