Current:Home > BackOwner of California biolab that fueled bio-weapons rumors charged with mislabeling, lacking permits-LoTradeCoin
Owner of California biolab that fueled bio-weapons rumors charged with mislabeling, lacking permits
View Date:2024-12-25 01:39:43
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The Chinese owner of an unauthorized central California lab that fueled conspiracy theories about China and biological weapons has been arrested on charges of not obtaining the proper permits to manufacture tests for COVID-19, pregnancy and HIV, and mislabeling some of the kits.
Jia Bei Zhu, 62, was arrested Thursday after an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. He is also charged with making false statements.
The charges deal with federal health regulations, nothing related to online conspiracy theories about China purportedly trying to engineer biological weapons in rural America.
Zhu, who is also known as Jesse Zhu, Qiang He and David He, is a citizen of China who formerly lived in Clovis, California, the office said in a press release.
Court documents allege that between December 2020 and March 2023, Zhu and others manufactured, imported, sold, and distributed hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits, as well as tests for HIV, pregnancy and other conditions in the U.S. and China.
The criminal case alleges that the two companies involved, Universal Meditech Inc. and Prestige Biotech Inc., did not obtain authorizations to manufacture and distribute the kits and mislabeled some of them. It also alleges that Zhu made false statements to the FDA about his identity, ownership and control of the companies and their activities.
Michael M. Lin, a Las Vegas attorney for Prestige Biotech, said in an email to The Associated Press that he had no immediate comment on the allegations.
The investigation stemmed from the discovery of medical test kits being manufactured in a warehouse in the agricultural Central Valley city of Reedley in December 2022. A city code enforcement officer found dozens of refrigerators and freezers, vials of blood and jars of urine, and about 1,000 white lab mice in crowded, soiled containers.
A local news report said that a company representative told officials the mice were modified to carry COVID-19, fueling the rumors of biological weapons being made. It was later determined that they were simply used to grow antibody cells to make test kits.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there was no sign that the lab was illegally in possession of the materials or had select agents or toxins that could be used as bioweapons.
“As part of his scheme, the defendant changed his name, the names of his companies, and their locations,” U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a statement.
“The disarray at the Reedley lab led to the glare of publicity he was trying to avoid, and the ensuing investigation unraveled his efforts to circumvent the requirements that are designed to ensure that medical devices are safe and effective,” Talbert said.
veryGood! (46861)
Related
- Crews battle 'rapid spread' conditions against Jennings Creek fire in Northeast
- Watch 'Dancing with the Stars' pros pay emotional tribute to late judge Len Goodman
- Bobi, the world's oldest dog, dies at 31
- Americans relying less on cash, more on credit cards may pay more fees. Here's why.
- Judith Jamison, acclaimed Alvin Ailey American dancer and director, dead at 81
- Slovakia swears in a new Cabinet led by a populist ex-premier who opposes support for Ukraine
- ESPN's Pat McAfee pays Aaron Rodgers; he's an accomplice to Rodgers' anti-vax poison
- France’s Macron seeks international support for his proposal to build a coalition against Hamas
- Subway rider who helped restrain man in NYC chokehold death says he wanted ex-Marine to ‘let go’
- Houston’s Hobby airport resumes flights after two planes clip wings on an airport runway
Ranking
- Everard Burke Introduce
- Teen Mom's Jenelle Evans Responds After Husband David Eason Reportedly Charged With Child Abuse
- Bellingham scores again to lead Real Madrid to 2-1 win over Braga in Champions League
- Colorado judge chides company that tried to pay $23,500 settlement in coins weighing 3 tons
- Singles' Day vs. Black Friday: Which Has the Best Deals for Smart Shoppers?
- How Dancing With the Stars Honored Late Judge Len Goodman in Emotional Tribute
- Kylie Jenner Makes Cheeky Reference to Timothée Chalamet Amid Budding Romance
- 10 days after heading to sea, 3 fishermen are missing off Georgia amid wide search by Coast Guard
Recommendation
-
Kentucky officer reprimanded for firing non-lethal rounds in 2020 protests under investigation again
-
Watch 'Dancing with the Stars' pros pay emotional tribute to late judge Len Goodman
-
Why this NBA season is different: There's an in-season tournament and it starts very soon
-
'The Voice': Gwen Stefani threatens to 'spank' singer Chechi Sarai after 'insecure' performance
-
After Baltimore mass shooting, neighborhood goes full year with no homicides
-
Sam Bankman-Fried will testify in his own defense, lawyers say
-
Wayfair Way Day 2023: The Biggest Sale of the Year is Back With Up to 80% Off Furniture, Decor & More
-
Support for Israel becomes a top issue for Iowa evangelicals key to the first Republican caucuses