FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — The search of a Las Vegas home, suspected of operating an illegal bio lab, has put attention back on an operation in Reedley.
Investigators say the Vegas home is owned by David He, the man accused of running an illegal bio lab in Reedley and arrested in 2023.
“Our community in Reedley, particularly, and all across the county has been calling and emailing,” Reedley city manager Nicole Zieba said.
On Tuesday, Fresno County and the city of Reedley officials hoping to ease any concern from the public.
“There were no biologicals, no chemicals, no lab equipment in that facility after our initial abatement. Nothing returned. We are safe,” Zieba explained.
Back in December 2022, a code violation at the property in Reedley revealed an illegal bio lab with thousands of vials of biological material, including potential pathogens such as HIV, malaria, COVID-19, and more.
But over the weekend, local and federal authorities searched a Las Vegas home sharing video of investigators in hazmat suits going through multiple refrigerators and a freezer containing vials and storage containers with unknown liquids.
“These items reportedly were consistent in appearance to the items found and described in the Reedley, California lab investigation,” Las Vegas Metro Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated to the media on Monday.
Authorities arrested 55-year-old Ori Solomon who is believed to be the property manager of the Las Vegas home.
David He has pleaded not guilty in the Reedley case and his attorney says he has no connection to this latest case.
“He never mentioned anything about LV properties or any other properties to me, about storing any kind of materials, anything of that nature,” said He’s attorney and Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi.
Following the search in Vegas, the FBI was seen searching the Reedley lab on Sunday.
“It was a sealed search warrant so I cannot tell you what they were looking for,” Zieba stated.
Zieba says all that’s left in the facility now is pregnancy and COVID tests along with documents.
“Those have been embargoed by the state,” Zieba explained. “They are under state control.”
City and county officials say they did not get help from the state or federal government in handling this operation three years ago and are asking for federal legislation to regulate private labs like these.
“This is putting our national security at risk because no one knows about these labs,” Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said.
Fresno county does have an ordinance in place to regulate labs like this but says federal legislation is still needed.
In 2025, California lawmakers, including Congressmen Jim Costa and David Valadao, introduced a bill designed to strengthen federal oversight of high-contaminant labs.
They’re now urging Congress to take action following this latest discovery.
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