Man arrested for involvement in secret Chinese biolab probe in California.
Jia Bei “Jesse” Zhu Arrested in California Amid Investigation into Secret Chinese Biolab
Jia Bei “Jesse” Zhu was apprehended on October 19 in California following an investigation into a black market Chinese biolab operating in Reedley, just southeast of Fresno. The arrest, carried out by FDA agents, occurred shortly after The Epoch Times published a report linking Zhu to the secret lab.
“As part of his scheme, the defendant changed his name, the names of his companies, and their locations,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
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The Epoch Times was unable to confirm Zhu’s whereabouts during the two-month investigation into the lab. According to a complaint filed on October 18, Zhu, who came to the United States from China under the alias Qiang “David” He in 2021, faces charges of manufacturing and distributing misbranded medical devices and making false statements to the FDA.
During a search of the Reedley warehouse, owned by Prestige Biotech Inc. (PBI), FDA agents discovered a photocopy of a Canadian driver’s license issued in 2014 to ”Jia Bei Zhu,” matching the person who identified himself as Qiang “David” He during a May 2023 inspection.
“Zhu was responsible for the operations of UMI and PBI, and was aware of the FDA’s rules and regulations for COVID-19 IVD test kits and other types of IVD test kits,” the complaint reads.
Zhu could face up to three years in prison for the misbranding charge and an additional five years for the false statements charge, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of California. Court documents allege that Zhu and others manufactured, imported, sold, and distributed hundreds of thousands of unauthorized COVID-19 and other test kits through UMI and PBI between December 2020 and March 2023.
Despite applying for emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 test kits, UMI’s requests were either withdrawn or denied. Throughout the investigation, Zhu made multiple false statements to FDA officials, including using a fake name and misrepresenting the companies’ activities.
Referred to as “UMI Employee Three” in the complaint, former UMI general manager Karekin Khatchadoorian revealed in a December 21, 2022 interview with FBI agents that Zhu, despite his title as “Tech Office Consultant,” effectively ran most of the company’s operations.
What suspicious activity in the Reedley area led to the investigation into the secret Chinese biolab?
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Published on 10/17/2023
The investigation into the secret Chinese biolab began after reports of suspicious activity in the Reedley area were brought to the attention of local authorities. It was alleged that the lab was conducting illegal experiments and selling their findings on the black market. Officials from the FDA, along with other law enforcement agencies, initiated a probe and uncovered evidence linking Jesse Zhu to the operation.
The arrest of Zhu is a significant development in the ongoing investigation. Zhu is believed to be a key figure in the operation and his apprehension could potentially provide crucial information to law enforcement agencies. The FBI, alongside the FDA, is now working to unravel the full extent of the operation and dismantle the network involved in the illicit activities.
According to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, Zhu went to great lengths to conceal his involvement. “As part of his scheme, the defendant changed his name, the names of his companies, and their locations,” said Talbert. These attempts to evade detection highlight the level of sophistication and criminal intent behind the operation.
The Reedley biolab, which operated under the radar for an extended period, had connections reaching beyond California. The Epoch Times’ investigative report detailed a web of global connections associated with the secretive facility. This discovery underscores the potential international implications of the case, suggesting that the operation may have had broader reach and impact than initially imagined.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, details about the specific experiments conducted at the lab and the individuals or organizations involved in the black market trade have not been disclosed. However, the investigation is expected to shed light on these matters as it progresses.
The arrest of Jia Bei “Jesse” Zhu is a significant step forward in dismantling the secret Chinese biolab and unraveling the network involved. It demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combatting illegal activities and protecting public safety. As the investigation continues, the hope is that it will uncover the full extent of the operation, bring all responsible parties to justice, and prevent any further harm from being inflicted.
For more information, please refer to the related stories published by The Epoch Times: “Behind a Secret Chinese Biolab in California, a Global Web of Connections” and “Black Market Chinese Biolab in California Now Subject to House Investigation.”
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