Jesse Jia-Bei Zhu, a 62-year-old entrepreneur, faced legal troubles in British Columbia in 2015 due to his failed ambitions in the bull semen industry. Years later, he resurfaced in the U.S. amid concerning allegations involving biolabs in California and Nevada stocked with potentially hazardous substances.
Authorities discovered a suspected laboratory in Las Vegas linked to Zhu, where he had planned to stay while facing charges for distributing adulterated COVID-19 tests across the U.S. Despite being a Chinese-Canadian citizen, Zhu’s release application was denied, and he remains in custody since his arrest in 2023 following the discovery of another biological lab in California containing test mice and vials of labeled substances like HIV and tuberculosis.
Zhu, who maintains his innocence, is also battling corporate giant XY LLC’s efforts to collect over $270 million in judgments for stealing bull sexing technology. Court documents reveal Zhu’s complex legal journey, including questions about his connections to companies securing government grants through potentially fraudulent means.
Having moved from China to Canada in 1988, Zhu left Canada permanently in 2015, fearing arrest in connection to civil contempt charges related to the XY LLC lawsuit. Despite court rulings against him, Zhu was accused of secretly producing sexed semen using stolen technology, resulting in substantial damages and legal battles.
In a separate incident, Zhu’s involvement in a biological lab in California raised alarms, leading to charges for selling unapproved COVID-19 test kits. A congressional report highlighted the need for better oversight of pathogenic studies to protect public health.
Recently, FBI agents investigated a biolab in California and a related case in Las Vegas, where hazardous materials were found in a home owned by an individual linked to Zhu. While Zhu is not charged in the Las Vegas investigation, his legal troubles continue, with XY LLC pursuing judgments against him in Canada and Hong Kong.
The company’s legal filings depict Zhu’s actions as fraudulent and reprehensible, with ongoing efforts to enforce court rulings against him. Zhu’s attempts to delay legal proceedings have drawn criticism, indicating a complex legal battle ahead for the embattled entrepreneur.
