B.C. man once tied to a bull-semen case is linked to two suspected U.S. biolabs.

Authorities say Jesse Jia-Bei Zhu, who left British Columbia after civil judgments related to bull-semen technology, has been linked to suspected laboratories in California and Nevada; he remains in U.S. pre-trial custody and is scheduled to stand trial on charges related to COVID-19 test kits in April.

Jesse Jia-Bei Zhu left British Columbia in 2015 after court judgments against him in a dispute over bull-semen technology. U.S. authorities have since linked him to suspected laboratory sites in California and Nevada where law enforcement reported finding laboratory equipment and numerous vials. Zhu remains in pre-trial custody in the United States and faces criminal charges related to the sale of COVID-19 test kits. His U.S. trial on those charges is scheduled for April. What officials reported: - Law enforcement has described suspected laboratory sites in Reedley, California, and a Las Vegas residence as containing laboratory equipment and numerous vials; officials said items at the two locations were consistent in appearance. - Investigators connected the California site to Zhu, who had prior civil judgments against him in British Columbia; Zhu is in U.S. custody and is not charged in the Las Vegas matter as of reporting. - U.S. authorities have charged Zhu with distributing COVID-19 test kits without required regulatory approvals, and court filings indicate a trial date in April. Summary: The developments link ongoing U.S. criminal proceedings to earlier civil litigation in British Columbia and have been noted in public reporting and a congressional review that raised questions about laboratory oversight. Investigations are continuing and court proceedings in the U.S. are scheduled to resume with the April trial date.