Ann Mary Zheng, a 27-year-old resident of Land O’Lakes, has been indicted on charges of assisting after the fact and evidence tampering in connection with an attempt to detonate 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 indictment alleges that Zheng assisted her brother, Alen Zheng, who is accused of placing the device at the base. The charges state that she helped him avoid apprehension and interfered with his prosecution by altering or destroying evidence related to the case.
Specifically, prosecutors say Ann Mary Zheng knowingly assisted her brother after he attempted to damage government property by fire or explosion. She is also charged with corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating, and concealing a 2010 black Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 in order to impair its integrity as evidence for use in federal court proceedings against Alen Zheng.
If convicted on all counts, Ann Mary Zheng faces up to 30 years in federal prison. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $5,000 alleged to be proceeds from the criminal conduct.
Authorities remind the public that an indictment is only a formal charge and does not imply guilt; every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stoia and David P. Sullivan will prosecute.
