The Brief
- A Florida 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, is accused of planting an explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base and fleeing to China, while his sister Ann Mary Zheng, 27, was arrested for allegedly helping him escape and tamper with evidence.
- A 911 bomb threat was reported March 10, but the device, later identified as a potentially deadly improvised explosive, was not found until March 16 near the base’s visitor center.
- Prosecutors say Alen Zheng could face up to 40 years if convicted.
TAMPA, Fla. – A Florida man accused of planting an explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base has fled to China, while his sister is now in custody after both were charged in connection with the incident, federal officials announced Wednesday.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alen Zheng, 20, faces multiple federal charges, including attempting to damage government property, unlawfully making a destructive device and possessing an unregistered destructive device. His sister, Ann Mary Zheng, 27, was booked on charges of witness tampering and acting as an accessory after the fact.
What we know:…