U.S. teen tied to IEDs, fake CIA badge

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. authorities said a 19-year-old Maryland native is linked to the possession of explosive devices and faked CIA intelligence identification badges.

Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, said Collin McKenzie-Gude of Bethesda, Md., pleaded guilty to the possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Court documents and his plea agreement state law enforcement officers in July 2008 recovered a weapons cache from his bedroom, including an AK-47 assault rifle, a modified flash bang grenade and nitrate chemicals used to manufacture explosive devices.

In addition, police say they allegedly uncovered a fake Central Intelligence Agency identification access badge and a faked common access card from the U.S. Government Geneva Conventions.

"We cannot know for certain what Collin McKenzie-Gude would have done if law enforcement had not acted," said Rosenstein. "What we know for certain is that he made and exploded pipe bombs and had the components to build new explosive devices."

McKenzie-Gude admitted to having the knowledge to make explosive devices, shape charges and other similar weapons. Latent fingerprints from detonated pipe bombs link him to a number of devices.

The U.S. government said it believes McKenzie-Gude had between eight and 24 firearms and made between 15 and 25 pipe bombs at his residence.

He faces a 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7.