TAMPA, Fla. — A 20-year-old Land O’Lakes man has been federally charged in connection with an alleged attempt to detonate an improvised explosive device at MacDill Air Force Base earlier this month, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say Alen Zheng faces charges of attempted damage of government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on the evening of March 10, 2026, when Zheng allegedly attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device at the MacDill Air Force Base Visitor’s Center in Tampa. Authorities say the attempt was unsuccessful. Law enforcement later located the device, rendered it safe, and determined it to be an improvised explosive device.
The case was investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Stoia and David P. Sullivan.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is a formal charge and not evidence of guilt. Zheng is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
