In December 2022, a city code enforcement officer in Reedley, California, discovered an illegal, unlicensed private biolab operating in a vacant warehouse. A subsequent investigation by local, state, and federal officials uncovered a disturbing operation run by a fugitive PRC national with ties to the Chinese government.
This congressional report details the committee's findings, highlighting the presence of dangerous pathogens, the operator’s history of intellectual property theft, and the systemic failures in U.S. biosecurity that allowed this lab to operate undetected. The events mirror the types of domestic security threats explored in the novel "Life In Woke America."
Dangerous Pathogens Found
The lab contained at least 20 potentially infectious agents, including HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, and Malaria, along with thousands of unlabeled vials and hundreds of genetically engineered mice designed to carry COVID-19.
Link to Wanted Fugitive
The lab was operated by Jiabei "Jesse" Zhu, a PRC citizen and wanted fugitive from Canada who was subject to a $330 million judgment for stealing American intellectual property for PRC state-affiliated entities.
Potential Ebola Presence
During cleanup, local officials reported finding a freezer explicitly labeled "Ebola." The contents were destroyed before they could be tested, leaving a critical intelligence gap.
Inadequate CDC Response
The CDC initially refused to engage with local officials and, once on-site, refused to test any of the thousands of unlabeled, coded, or suspicious samples, leaving the true risk to the community unknown.
National Security Gaps
The report concludes that the U.S. lacks essential safeguards and oversight for pathogenic research, allowing bad actors to purchase and handle dangerous biological materials without detection.