TAMPA, Fla. — Brother and sister have been indicted for placing an IED at MacDill Air Force Base, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida said.
The indictment said Alen Zheng, 20, is charged with attempted damage of government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
Alen's sister Ann Mary Zheng, 27, is charged with assisting after the fact and evidence tampering.
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U.S. State Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory Kehoe said on March 10, Alen attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device (IED) at the MacDill Air Force Base Visitor's Center. A person called 911 and reported a bomb was placed at the center, Kehoe said.
Alen and Ann Mary both fled to China after the incident. Ann Mary returned to the U.S. for an unknown reason and was arrested on a warrant.
Alen remains in China.
If convicted, Alen faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, US Attorney Kehoe said.
Ann Mary is being held in the Pinellas County jail, according to court records.
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Ann Mary Zheng by Tampa Bay 28
MacDill Air Force Base has been the subject of several threats in recent weeks, prompting the base to be placed on Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Charlie, a heightened security posture.
On March 25, a Pinellas County man was charged with making a threat involving explosives to MacDill Air Force Base, prompting a lockdown of the base.
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