On Saturday, police conducted a raid at a residence in northeast Las Vegas, linked to Ori Solomon, an Israeli citizen in the U.S. on an E-2 visa. The property is owned by Jia Bei Zhu, who is facing criminal charges. This case ties back to the discovery of an unlicensed biolab in Reedley, California, found late in 2022.
At Zhu’s compound on Sugar Springs Drive, officers uncovered a situation that appeared to be a biological laboratory. Items found included “biosafety hoods, biosafety stickers, centrifuges, several refrigerators, gallon-sized containers with an unknown reddish-brown liquid, and refrigerated vials with an unknown substance,” according to Christopher Delzotto, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas Office.
A local observation noted, “Instead of a sterile medical environment, it was more reminiscent of a place with a bad odor and stale air.”
This Las Vegas location was also reportedly rented out on Airbnb, where some guests allegedly fell seriously ill. Documentation suggests the FBI had received a tip last month referencing lab equipment and medical waste found at Zhu’s property. Police initially indicated that there were three renters present during the investigation. Thankfully, all tenants have been safely evacuated and are currently not implicated in any laboratory-related investigations.
Solomon was arrested over the weekend for charges related to hazardous waste disposal and discharge, while Zhu had been in consistent contact with individuals in Israel while in federal custody last month. Solomon is also facing federal firearm charges, accused of possessing multiple weapons, which is prohibited for nonimmigrant visa holders.
Reports suggest Solomon acted as Zhu’s principal “agent and co-conspirator,” managing up to 37 Airbnb properties.
In more concerning developments, there are claims that individuals who entered the garage where the alleged lab was located became gravely unwell, struggling with breathing difficulties, fatigue, and other symptoms after a few days. A police report detailed a tipster, referred to as “Kelly,” stating that several people living in the residence had fallen ill and that one woman required hospitalization due to severe respiratory issues.
I mean, it raises alarms—especially considering the potential risk associated with Zhu’s Las Vegas property, which could mirror the hazardous contents found in the Reedley lab.
A report from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party highlighted that Zhu’s Reedley property housed thousands of mutant mice along with at least 20 infectious agents, including HIV, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and malaria. There was even a freezer labeled “Ebola” discovered there.
