California Officials Criticize Federal Response to Illegal Bio Labs in Fresno and Las Vegas

California officials have expressed dissatisfaction with the federal response after the discovery of unauthorized bio labs, one in Reedley, California, and another recently found in Las Vegas, Nevada. Concerns rose after the latest find in a residential area over the weekend, reminiscent of a similar case uncovered in California in late 2023.

The bio lab in Reedley was discovered to house pathogen-labeled containers with diseases such as dengue fever, HIV, and malaria. About 1,000 mice presumed for testing purposes were also found. Jia Bei Zhu, a citizen of China, was apprehended in October 2023. He faced charges of distributing contaminated and misleading medical products, among them coronavirus tests, and remains incarcerated. Zhu is scheduled for a court appearance in April.

Following closely, authorities in Las Vegas raided a residence where they encountered a similar illegal lab setup. According to Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the site contained multiple refrigerators, a freezer, and other lab apparatuses, along with an array of bottles and jugs filled with unidentified liquid substances.

“These items, importantly, were consistent in appearance to the items found and described in the Reedley, California lab investigation,” McMahill stated.

FBI Special Agent Christopher Delzotto mentioned that agents discovered items such as a centrifuge, biosafety materials, and unknown liquids in large containers. Over 1,000 samples were collected and sent to the National Bioforensic Analysis Center in Maryland for further study.

The Las Vegas police acquired limited intelligence suggesting the presence of laboratory equipment and concerning materials at the residence before the operation. It was found that Zhu also owned the property in Las Vegas, raising alarms about what authorities might face. A robot was used for safety checks before police entry, and hazmat teams facilitated the removal of items.

Nicole Zieba, Reedley’s city manager, commented on the situation, saying the discovery wasn’t surprising. Fresno County supervisor, Nathan Magsig, highlighted the possibility of other such facilities nationwide. Zieba remarked on the lack of federal action, stating, “I hope they are paying attention because when we tried to raise the flag, we received just such a poor response from the CDC. It’s almost as if they didn’t want anything to do with it.”

In Las Vegas, a secondary home search yielded no suspicious materials. However, Ori Solomon, identified as the property manager of the implicated sites, was arrested initially for the unauthorized disposal of hazardous waste.

Zhu’s attorney, Anthony Capozzi, reiterated Zhu’s non-involvement in the Las Vegas bio lab case, mentioning that Zhu has been in custody for three years, asserting, “What went on in that residence, we are unaware of.”

Recently, federal agents revisited the Reedley lab, and McMahill noted the significant investigative work that still lay ahead for the Las Vegas police department. “Vegas is in for a long road,” Zieba emphasized, reflecting on the complexity faced in the Reedley investigation, which lacked precedence.