A brother and sister from Florida are facing serious legal trouble after a bomb was found at an Air Force base right after they left the country.
Allen Jenn, 20, and Anne Mary Jenn, 27, who lived together in Land O’ Lakes, are now facing federal charges linked to this incident.
Authorities have labeled the explosive device as “viable” and “potentially very deadly.”
On March 10, a 911 call reported that an improvised explosive device (IED) had been placed at MacDill Air Force Base, located in Tampa. The military looked into it, but no suspicious items were identified at that time.
However, just six days later, an IED was discovered at the base’s visitor center. Officials confirmed that the device was indeed operational and extremely dangerous.
Gregory Kehoe, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of Florida, stated that the initial 911 call regarding the bomb led investigators back to Allen Zhen, who had recently bought a ticket to China with Anne Mary on March 11, departing the next day.
Additionally, evidence showed that the bomb was at MacDill when it was planted, and later, “residue” from the explosive device was discovered in a vehicle tied to them.
Interestingly enough, Anne Mary returned to the U.S. on March 17. During discussions with investigators, she and her mother reportedly admitted awareness of the IED and Allen’s involvement.
Currently, Allen Jenn, thought to still be in China, faces charges that include attempting to damage government property through explosives, illegally manufacturing a destructive device, and possessing an unregistered destructive device. If found guilty, he might face up to 40 years in prison.
Anne Mary Jenn is charged with tampering with evidence and aiding her brother’s alleged crimes. She could face 30 years if convicted.
A representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that both siblings are naturalized U.S. citizens. Their mother, who has not been named, is currently in federal custody for immigration-related reasons.
“She is being held for overstay and for deportation,” Kehoe stated, though she hasn’t been charged with a crime yet. The investigation is still ongoing, leaving the option for future charges open.
On March 18, MacDill Air Force Base received another ominous call about a bomb. The caller made a statement that hinted at previous incidents, saying, “How did you like the surprise at the MacDill Visitor Center? It’s ticking, buzzing, it’s going to get between your eyes.”
The suspect who made this call, 35-year-old Jonathan Elder, was arrested a few days later. Currently, there’s no evidence linking him to the Jenn siblings.
