A man and his sister, Alen Zheng and Ann Mary Zheng, have been indicted in Florida on federal charges related to an explosive device found outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa; the siblings fled to China after the incident and were later arrested, while their mother faces deportation for visa overstays.

Ann Mary Zheng faces potential prison time, up to 30 years, if convicted of witness tampering and being an accessory after the fact to the crime, tied to allegedly selling the vehicle used to drop off the package.

Investigators linked Alen Zheng to the 911 call and a phone used to place it, and surveillance showed him buying a phone; a home search uncovered components consistent with the device.

MacDill officials have not released specific details during the active investigation and are coordinating with local, state, and federal partners.

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The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office planned to discuss the MacDill investigation at a 1:30 p.m. briefing, with live streaming available via the 10 Tampa Bay News app.

MacDill Air Force Base’s strategic role and security posture are highlighted amid regional tensions, with related security actions unfolding during the period.

A federal public defender declined to comment; authorities say they are pursuing all avenues to bring the defendants back to the United States if needed.

The FBI has stressed that threats to military facilities will be pursued aggressively, reflecting nationwide emphasis on protecting critical installations.

A suspicious package led to the FBI investigation at MacDill, home to U.S. Central Command, with heightened alerts since regional tensions began affecting the area.

The device was found at MacDill’s visitor center following a March 10 911 report, with indications of energetic materials but pending lab results at the time.

MacDill hosts U.S. Central Command and remains on heightened security in the region amid ongoing tensions.