Jesse Jia-Bei Zhu, a 62-year-old entrepreneur with a tumultuous past, left British Columbia in 2015 carrying legal troubles stemming from his failed ambitions in the bull semen industry. Recently, his name resurfaced in the U.S. amidst unsettling claims involving biolabs in California and Nevada housing hazardous substances.
Zhu, a dual Chinese-Canadian citizen, faced rejection for release while awaiting trial for distributing faulty COVID-19 tests in the U.S. Authorities uncovered a biological lab in Fresno County, California, with test mice and vials containing substances like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, leading to Zhu’s arrest in 2023.
Prior legal battles shed light on Zhu’s current predicament. Court records reveal his intricate journey, including controversial practices linked to government grants in Canada and alleged fraudulent activities.
Zhu’s troubles began in Canada in 1988 after moving from China and escalated when he left for the U.S. in 2015 to evade a civil contempt sentence related to a lawsuit involving XY LLC. Despite court orders, Zhu was accused of clandestinely using XY’s technology to produce sexed semen, leading to substantial financial penalties.
In the U.S., Zhu’s involvement in a suspicious lab in Reedley, California, raised alarms. The facility, set up under an alias, contained unlabeled vials of biological substances, prompting concerns of potential pathogen transportation. Subsequent investigations led to charges against Zhu for unauthorized selling of COVID-19 test kits.
In a separate incident in Las Vegas, authorities discovered hazardous materials in a home linked to Zhu, resulting in the arrest of the property manager. Despite these events, Zhu’s lawyer denied his involvement in the biolab activities.
Meanwhile, XY LLC continues its legal pursuit against Zhu, seeking to enforce court judgments in Canada and Hong Kong. The company refrained from commenting on Zhu’s recent controversies, emphasizing ongoing litigation.
Zhu’s legal maneuvering, delays, and alleged fraudulent behavior have drawn criticism from XY LLC, who accuses him of employing delay tactics to obstruct legal proceedings. The company remains steadfast in pursuing justice in the face of Zhu’s legal challenges.