Jesse Jia-Bei Zhu, a 62-year-old entrepreneur with a troubled past, left British Columbia in 2015 under the shadow of legal issues stemming from his failed ambitions in the bull semen industry. Recently, Zhu’s name resurfaced in the U.S. in connection with concerning allegations involving bio labs in California and Nevada housing potentially hazardous substances.
Zhu, a dual Chinese-Canadian citizen, faced setbacks in his attempt to secure release while awaiting trial for distributing faulty COVID-19 tests across the U.S. Authorities discovered a suspected lab in Las Vegas, leading to Zhu’s continued detention since his arrest in 2023 following the detection of another lab in California containing test mice and vials labeled with diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.
Court records from both Canadian and U.S. proceedings shed light on Zhu’s complicated journey, including questionable actions by companies linked to him in obtaining government grants. Zhu, who moved to Canada from China in 1988, faced legal troubles related to a civil contempt sentence and a substantial financial judgment for misappropriating technology from XY LLC.
Zhu’s escapades involved setting up new entities to produce sexed semen using stolen technology, with ambitions to challenge American companies. Despite his claims of innocence, Zhu faced significant legal repercussions, culminating in massive financial liabilities. A congressional report highlighted Zhu’s involvement in setting up a bio lab in California, raising concerns about potential cross-border transport of pathogens.
Recent developments tied Zhu to a bio lab in Las Vegas, where hazardous materials were found. While Zhu is not implicated in the Las Vegas case, his legal battles continue, with ongoing efforts by XY LLC to enforce judgments against him. The company, labeling Zhu’s actions as “fraud of epic proportions,” remains committed to pursuing legal remedies in multiple jurisdictions.
As Zhu awaits trial and fights legal battles on various fronts, the complex and troubling narrative surrounding his ventures underscores the legal challenges and controversies he faces.