Separate Federal Charges Are Brought Against Bethesda Pipe Bomb Suspect

A Bethesda teenager now faces federal charges in connection with what authorities say were his efforts to build pipe bombs using materials stored in his bedroom and to make fake federal IDs.

Collin McKenzie-Gude, 18, was charged yesterday in U.S. District Court with possession of an unregistered explosive device and production of false identification documents. He has been indicted in Montgomery County on related charges.

Along with assault-style weapons, armor-piercing bullets and more than 50 pounds of chemicals, McKenize-Gude had a fake CIA ID, a fake federal contractor ID and a map of Camp David, marked with the president's motorcade route, according to authorities.

In a case that his attorney has portrayed as something far less serious than domestic terrorism, the filing of federal charges raises the stakes considerably. Federal charges typically bring stiffer penalties.

"We've been trying to resolve this case as quickly as possible because he's incarcerated," said McKenzie-Gude's attorney, Steven Kupferberg. "It appears that this is just another impediment to the resolution of the case."

Charging documents filed yesterday in federal court do not shed new light on what authorities think McKenzie-Gude planned to do with the map or the fake IDs.

But the documents do provide details about the alleged bomb-making exploits of McKenzie-Gude and another teenager, who was charged as a juvenile by Montgomery officials but is not facing federal charges. An attorney for the other teen could not be reached for comment in the early evening.

In an affidavit, FBI Special Agent Victoria B. Backes said a cooperating witness indicated that McKenzie-Gude and the witness had assembled and detonated 15 to 25 pipe bombs over the previous three years. The cooperating witness said McKenzie-Gude knew how to make other bombs, such as improvised explosive devices and explosively formed projectiles -- the latter, according to the affidavit, designed to penetrate armor.

The investigation came to light in early August after McKenzie-Gude allegedly tried to carjack a 78-year-old man in at White Flint Mall. Police said he apparently was spooked by their efforts to search his bedroom.

Arrested by Montgomery police, McKenzie-Gude has been jailed since. He was indicted Sept. 25 in connection with the materials recovered in his home, and he is due in Montgomery Circuit Court today for a routine bond review.

After graduating last spring from St. John's College High School in the District, McKenzie-Gude was scheduled to start college this fall at American University's School of International Service.

"He's got an excellent reputation in the community," Kupferberg said. "He's a young man who's never been in trouble before."