Owner of Reedley Lab that Stored Deadly Viruses Convicted of $4M Fraudulent Sales
Jurors said Zhu sold more than 1.4 million faulty COVID-19 test kits and lied to regulators about his identity and the company’s role.
- On Tuesday, a federal jury convicted Jia Bei Zhu on 12 counts, including wire fraud and distributing misbranded medical devices, following a two-week trial in Sacramento regarding his illegal biolab operations in California.
- Between August 2020 and March 2023, Zhu sold more than 1.4 million faulty COVID-19 test kits for nearly $4 million through Universal Meditech Inc. and Prestige Biotech, falsely marketing them as FDA-authorized.
- Investigators discovered unsanitary conditions at the Reedley site, including pathogens stored in juice and soda containers, while court records revealed Zhu fled a $330 million intellectual property judgment in Canada before entering the United States.
- U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd scheduled Zhu's sentencing for August 24, 2026, where he faces up to 20 years in prison; his romantic partner, Zhaoyan Wang, remains a fugitive in China.
- Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba noted significant unanswered questions regarding how Zhu acquired deadly pathogens, as Congressmen Jim Costa, David Valadao, and Kevin Kiley introduced legislation to strengthen oversight of high-contaminant research laboratories.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Dark secrets of Fresno biolab revealed as Chinese national convicted in nationwide scheme
A 64-year-old Chinese national has been convicted by a federal jury of selling more than a million fraudulent COVID-19 tests nationwide out of a Fresno biolab during the pandemic.
NEWS HEADLINES: Chinese national found guilty after orchestrating fraud scheme, distributing over 1M non-compliant COVID-19 test kits – One America News Network
A photograph taken in London on August 18, 2020 shows the contents of a UK Government COVID-19 antigen home test kit. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images) OAN Staff Lillian Mann and Brooke Mallory7:34 PM – Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Following a two-week federal trial, a Chinese national was convicted for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that distributed over one million non-compliant COVID-19 test …
Chinese National Tied to Suspected Las Vegas Biolab Found Guilty of COVID Test Fraud
A California jury found a Chinese national guilty on all counts on May 6 for selling more than 1 million faulty COVID-19 tests and obtaining nearly $4 million from customers across the United States. The verdict concluded a years-long investigation into Jia Bei Zhu’s scheme, which involved lying to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and importing faulty COVID-19 tests from China, the Department of Justice (DOJ) stated, but his alleged involv…
California businessman found guilty of selling faulty COVID tests, defrauding customers
Jia Bei Zhu, a Chinese national tied to a controversial underground biolab, was found guilty of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 test fraud scheme, prosecutors say.
Chinese national found guilty after orchestrating fraud scheme, distributing over 1M non-compliant COVID-19 test kits
Following a two-week federal trial, a Chinese national was convicted for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that distributed over one million non-compliant COVID-19 test kits throughout the United States during the peak of the pandemic.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
