FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Recently, a serious situation unfolded involving two siblings, Alen and Ann Mary Zheng, who have been charged in connection with an explosive device found outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. This incident raises important questions about safety and security, especially near military installations.
The Zheng siblings were indicted separately on Wednesday after their actions led to a significant security scare. Alen, 20, and Ann Mary, 27, both hold U.S. citizenship, and their mother is currently facing deportation due to overstaying her visa, according to U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe.
U.S. Attorney Kehoe emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “If you threaten to harm somebody or if you harm somebody in the Middle District of Florida, you will be brought to task.” This is a clear message that such actions will not be taken lightly.
If found guilty, Alen Zheng could face up to 40 years in prison for attempting to damage government property and unlawfully making and possessing an explosive device. Ann Mary Zheng could receive a 30-year sentence for allegedly tampering with witnesses and acting as an accessory to the crime by selling the car used in the incident.
The investigation began when a suspicious package was discovered outside MacDill on March 16. It was revealed that Alen had planted the device six days earlier, on March 10, and even made a 911 call to report it. Initially, Air Force personnel searched the area but did not locate the device.
Following the 911 call, both siblings sold their Mercedes-Benz SUV and traveled to China. Ann Mary returned to the U.S. a few days later. By that time, investigators had linked Alen to the 911 call using phone data and surveillance footage of the SUV. Although the car had been cleaned, evidence of explosive residue was still found.
Authorities also discovered explosive device components when they executed a search warrant at the Zheng family’s home. Meanwhile, the device itself was sent to an FBI lab for further analysis.
Kehoe noted that there is currently no evidence suggesting that Alen Zheng was working on behalf of any foreign government, including China. Efforts are underway to bring him back to the U.S. to face the charges against him.
MacDill Air Force Base is crucial to U.S. military operations, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia. Due to heightened tensions in the region, security at such bases has been intensified.
In a related incident, another individual was arrested for making threatening phone calls to the base shortly after the explosive device was discovered, but there is no known link between that person and the Zheng siblings.
