Bethesda teen faces charges for explosives
An 18-year-old Bethesda man was charged Thursday by federal authorities with illegal possession of an explosive device and production of false identification, including a Central Intelligence Agency badge and a government card typically used by military personnel. Law enforcement officials reportedly found bomb-making materials that included copper wire, timers, electrical switches, sodium nitrate, plastic pipes and batteries, and bomb-making instructions in the bedroom of Collin McKenzie-Gude when they searched his home July 29. Officers also found a homemade grenade, authorities said, Police also say they found a fake CIA access badge and a false Department of Defense "common access card" used for access to military computers and networks. and several other weapons, including three assault rifles, two shotguns and a handgun. McKenzie-Gude faces weapons charges in state court. The federal charges against McKenzie-Gude appear to be connected to charges of a July 29 attempted carjacking and assault, which he faces in Montgomery County Circuit Court. The date of that incident is the same day his bedroom was searched by police. Rod J. Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney for Maryland, said his office worked with local authorities on the case and decided to bring federal charges against the teenager because of the "gravity of the allegations." If convicted, McKenzie-Gude could face a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the false identification charge, and 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for possessing a destructive device.
