DOJ: Chinese Reedley lab boss resisted arrest

Jia Bei Zhu, the Chinese national and former Clovis resident, resisted arrest when he was apprehended in Reedley for his alleged involvement in the secret and illegal Reedley biolab.

The backstory: Zhu is facing Federal charges of misbranding medical devices and making false statements to federal authorities.

• Zhu is associated with Universal Meditech Incorporated and Prestige Biotech Incorporated, both of which were involved in the production and sale of COVID-19 test kits, pregnancy test kits, and HIV kits.

• The investigation into the illegal Reedley Biolab started when a code inspector discovered the lab in a warehouse in December 2022, leading to a months-long investigation by federal, state, and local officials that eventually resulted in the lab’s shutdown.

• Along with producing COVID-19 test kits, Zhu distributed test kits for HIV, pregnancy, clinical urinalysis and others throughout the United States and China. 

• Court documents reveal that Zhu did not obtain the required authorizations to manufacture and distribute the test kits and mislabeled some of them. 

• Federal authorities accuse Zhu of making false statements to the FDA about his identity, his ownership and control of Universal Meditech and Prestige Biotech and the activities of the two companies. 

• Zhu utilized three aliases: Jesse Zhu, Qiang He and David He. 

From takedown to the courtroom: During his initial court appearance via video teleconferencing, Zhu identified himself as David He and was observed to have bandages on his nose and forehead, indicating he had suffered minor scrapes during the arrest.

• Zhu requested to be taken to the hospital and was treated for his injuries.

• While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted the sting operation and made the arrest, the transportation of Zhu to the county jail was handled by Reedley Police.

What’s next: Zhu is scheduled to return to court for a rescheduled initial appearance and has not entered a plea. He is currently being held in Fresno County Jail.

• The court docket indicates that Zhu will appear in person for his hearing in front of Magistrate Judge Erica Grosjean, but he does not have an attorney listed as of now.