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The Select Committee investigation uncovered documents and other records showing that, while Zhu was selling fraudulent kits and engaging in unknown pathogen-related activity, he was also receiving unexplained payments via wire transfer from PRC banks. In a few years, these payments totaled over $1.3 million. This number may significantly underestimate the total amount he received via suspicious payments, because the Select Committee only has access to partial data and records. These payments do not accord with Zhu’s fraudulent activity, as he should have been paying money PRC firms for the test kits and receiving payments  American individuals or companies who purchased the counterfeit test kits. These payments may be indicative of money laundering. These payments deserve continued scrutiny.

On October 19, 2023, federal agents arrested Zhu on a criminal complaint for manufacturing and distributing misbranded medical devices in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and for making false statements to the FDA. In addition to confirming his identity, the criminal complaint discussed Zhu’s ties to the Reedley Biolab site and the business therein. It also described Zhu’s multi-year fraudulent activities and false statements he made to federal agents in order to conceal his identity.

With the exception of Ebola, the labeled pathogens (which CDC accepted at face value) are inconsistent with the operation of a bioweapons program. Most fall into Risk Groups 2 and 3, which may pose a high risk to individuals (i.e., infecting specific people with HIV, tuberculosis, or malaria through targeted attacks or contamination of a specific area) but are unlikely to cause a mass casualty event.