FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A man who fled to China and his sister have been charged after an explosive device was left outside a gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa this month. Alen Zheng, 20, and Ann Mary Zheng, 27, were charged Wednesday in separate federal indictments. The sister is in custody, while the brother has fled, according to a social media post by FBI director Kash Patel. Alen Zheng is charged with attempting to damage government property, unlawfully making a destructive device, and possessing an unregistered destructive device. The indictment specifically mentions the package found at MacDill. Ann Mary Zheng faces charges including witness tampering and being an accessory after the fact in Alen Zheng’s case. Online court records did not list an attorney for either person. A suspicious package was discovered outside MacDill on March 16, prompting an FBI investigation. The U.S. Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, is located on the base, which has been on heightened alert since the onset of recent regional conflicts. Earlier this week, another individual was arrested for making threatening phone calls to the base shortly after the discovery of the explosive device; however, there is no immediate connection between this individual and the Zheng siblings.
Charges Filed in MacDill Air Force Base Explosive Device Incident
Alen and Ann Mary Zheng face federal charges after an explosive device was left at MacDill Air Force Base, prompting a major FBI investigation.
In a significant case concerning national security, Alen Zheng, 20, who fled to China, and his sister Ann Mary Zheng, 27, have been charged in connection with an explosive device found outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Alen faces serious charges including attempted damage to government property and unlawful possession of a destructive device, while Ann is charged with witness tampering. The investigation follows heightened security alerts related to the base's operations in the Middle East.
