Federal authorities have announced new charges against the operators of an illegal underground bio-laboratory discovered in a Central California community last fall.
Jia Beizhu, a 62-year-old Chinese national, was previously indicted on charges of distributing counterfeit and misbranded COVID-19 test kits in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as well as making false statements to authorities about his identity and involvement with the biolab.
Additional charges are currently being filed against another Chinese national, Wang Zhaoyan, 38, who authorities described as his “lover and business partner.”
According to court documents, from August 2020 to March 2023, Zhu and Wang conspired to defraud purchasers of UMI and PBI COVID-19 test kits. They imported hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits from Aide Co. Ltd., a Chinese company they controlled, and falsely represented to purchasers that the test kits were made in the United States.
‘Sinister’ California bio lab shrouded in mystery as China ties revealed
Additional charges were filed against Jia Bei Chu, 62, operator of Reedley Bio Labs, and his partner, according to the Department of Justice. (kph)
Officials said the COVID-19 test kits, which are not approved for import, were illegally imported by falsely declaring them as pregnancy test kits, which are approved for import.
Joe Prado, deputy director of the Fresno County Department of Public Health, He previously told FOX26 The lab said it was using the mice “to verify whether COVID test kits are actually testing for COVID.”
According to officials, Zhu and Wang also falsely represented to buyers that UMI and PBI could produce up to 100,000 COVID-19 test kits per week in the United States and that the kits were produced in partnership with other laboratories certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cleanup of suspect China-linked California bio lab continues
Equipment with Chinese markings at a biolab in Fresno, California (City of Reedley)
Finally, authorities said Zhu and Wang falsely represented to buyers that the test kits were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
When potential buyers requested tours of the Fresno and Reedley properties, Chu and Wang allegedly refused to allow them access, claiming the properties were under construction or renovation, and then fabricated reasons for their refusal.
Upon inspection, health department inspectors found about 1,000 lab mice in the lab, 200 of which were dead, according to FOX 26. Inspectors also found thousands of vials, some of which contained human blood and other substances.
Illegal China-linked bio lab found in California filled with mice, medical waste
EPA-contracted hazardous materials crews enter a warehouse in Reedley, California, to remove 800 containers of chemicals from an underground biolab. (Lee Ross)
The lab was closed in early July.
Zhu has not been charged with any crime linked to the large amount of biological weapons discovered in the previously empty warehouse.
Zhu’s next trial is on September 11. Wang is not currently in custody, and it is unclear whether he is still in the country.
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If convicted, Zhu and Wang face up to 20 years in prison for each of the conspiracy and wire fraud charges, plus an additional three years for distributing counterfeit and misbranded medical devices. Zhu faces an additional five years for making false statements.
― Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betts contributed to this report.
