A New York man charged last June in connection with gunshots fired in the parking lot of the Augusta Wal-Mart has been indicted on a federal firearms charge.
Reginald McBride, 39, of Harlem, who has a host of aliases, including Kweisha McBride and Anthony Walker, is scheduled for an arraignment and an initial appearance on the indictment Tuesday at U.S. District Court in Bangor.
The charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 or both.
McBride and Frankie Dejesus, 27, of Rochester, New York, were both accused of firing handguns at each other in the parking lot of Wal-Mart on June 26. Police later said it involved a dispute over money that was drug-related. No one was struck by a bullet during the altercation, which ended when armed bystanders intervened.
The federal indictment lists five prior convictions for McBride, all of which would have prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
Those convictions include possession of a controlled substance and forging a public document in August 1996 in Fairfax County, Virginia; a July 1990 conviction also in Fairfax County for distribution of cocaine; a 1998 conviction for criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and a 2013 conviction for criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, both in New York County. The indictment says that on June 26, 2016, McBride knowingly possessed a Kel-Tec 9 mm pistol which had been shipped via interstate commerce. The indictment was handed up by a federal grand jury on Nov. 10. Attorney James Nixon of the Federal Defender’s Office was appointed to represent McBride.
Federal authorities seek to have McBride detained, saying that the felony charge involves a firearm, there is serious risk McBride will flee and a serious risk of obstruction of justice, according to a motion filed by the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Mullis.
Four people were arrested following the incident in the parking lot, which police said was related to a dispute over money and drugs. No one was injured. However, police found shell casings in the parking lot, and at least one vehicle was struck.
At the time, McBride was identified as Kweasia ‘Reggie’ McBride with a different date of birth, and was charged with reckless conduct with a firearm, Class C, and aggravated trafficking in drugs (heroin), Class B. His bail was set at $50,000.
McBride was indicted in September on charges of attempted murder, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, reckless conduct with a firearm and four counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He was later indicted in state court on charges of aggravated trafficking in cocaine, stemming from an incident in Augusta on March 1, 2016, in Augusta; aggravated trafficking in heroin, from an incident April 6, 2016, in Augusta; and aggravated trafficking in cocaine base April 29, 2016, in Gardiner.
Also arrested in connection with the Wal-Mart incident were Dejesus, 27, who was charged with reckless conduct with a firearm and aggravated assault. His bail was set at $25,000. He too was indicted in September on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and reckless conduct with a firearm. He remains jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Diana Davis, now 29, of Rochester, New York, was charged with aggravated assault and later indicted on that same charge. She is free on bail and staying in Winslow.
DeJesus and Davis are accused of beating on McBride.
Samantha Tupper, 24, of Augusta, was initially charged with probation violation and furnishing heroin. She was later indicted on charges of unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs and hindering apprehension or prosecution in connection with the Wal-Mart incident. She remains in jail.
Documents filed in federal court note that McBride remains in state custody. He is being housed at the Kennebec County jail where he has been held since his arrest June 26. His bail is set at $50,000.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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