Ann Mary Zheng, a 27-year-old resident of Land O’Lakes, has been charged by indictment with assisting after the fact and evidence tampering related to an attempted detonation of an improvised explosive device at the MacDill Air Force Base Visitor’s Center in Tampa, according to a Mar. 26 announcement by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The case is significant as it involves alleged efforts to hinder a federal investigation into an attempt to damage government property by fire or explosion. The indictment states that Zheng assisted her brother, Alen Zheng, knowing he had placed the device at the base.
According to prosecutors, Ann Mary Zheng is accused of corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating, and concealing a 2010 black Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 in order to impair its integrity and availability for use in Alen Zheng’s federal prosecution. The indictment also notifies her that the United States is seeking forfeiture of $5,000 believed to be proceeds from the charged criminal conduct.
If convicted on all counts, Ann Mary Zheng faces up to 30 years in federal prison. Prosecutors stress that an indictment is only a formal charge and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stoia and David P. Sullivan will prosecute.
