March 26 (UPI) — Federal authorities indicted a pair of Florida siblings accused of planting an improvised explosive device at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, the FBI announced Thursday.
Alen Zheng, 20, is accused of placing the explosive device at the base’s visitor center March 10. His sister, Ann Mary Zheng, 27, faces charges she assisted him in the effort.
The siblings, both U.S. citizens, sold the Mercedes-Benz SUV they allegedly used to carry out the crime, then flew to China. Authorities arrested Ann Mary Zheng when she returned from China. Alen Zheng was in China as of Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X.
The federal indictment for Alen Zheng said built the improvised explosive device and unsuccessfully attempted to detonate it at MacDill Air Force Base. In a news release announcing the charges, the Justice Department said law enforcement found the device and safely disassembled it March 16.
He faces one count of attempted damage of government property by fire or explosion, one count of unlawful making of a destructive device, and one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to between 5 years and 40 years in prison.
Ann Mary Zheng is accused of helping her brother after the fact in the alleged crime, the Justice Department said. Officials said she tried to help her brother by hindering and preventing his apprehension, trial and punishment and also corrupting, altering, destroying, mutilating and concealing the Mercedes-Benz she drove.
If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison.
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