FBI Probes Suspected Illegal Biolab in Las Vegas Home Linked to California Case; Property Manager Released Pending Trial
- 17GEN4
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
Las Vegas, Nevada – February 19, 2026 – Federal and local authorities continue to investigate a suspected unlicensed biological laboratory discovered in a residential garage in northeast Las Vegas, with the case drawing parallels to a prior illegal biolab operation in California.
The investigation began on January 31, 2026, when Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) SWAT teams, assisted by the FBI, executed a search warrant at a home on Sugar Springs Drive, near Washington Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard. Officers discovered multiple refrigerators, freezers, vials containing unknown liquids (including reddish-brown substances), lab equipment, and over 1,000 pieces of evidence potentially related to biological materials. Hazardous materials teams assisted in safely removing items, and more than 1,000 samples have been sent to a federal bioforensics lab for testing.
Authorities described the setup as a "possible biological laboratory" and emphasized no immediate public threat, though exposure to materials at the property reportedly left at least two individuals – including a house cleaner – seriously ill with symptoms such as severe respiratory issues, fatigue, and muscle aches.
The property is tied to an LLC connected to Jia Bei Zhu (also known as David He), a Chinese national currently in federal custody related to a 2023 illegal biolab discovered in Reedley, California. That earlier case involved alleged infectious agents like HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, COVID-19, and other pathogens, along with charges of fraud and distributing adulterated medical devices. Court records indicate Zhu, while detained, made hundreds of calls – including over 400 to the Las Vegas suspect – and that materials may have been relocated from prior sites.
Ori Solomon, Property Manager, Faces Charges
The primary figure arrested in the Las Vegas probe is Ori Solomon (also spelled Ori Salomon in some documents), a 55-year-old Israeli citizen in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa. Solomon served as the property manager for the Sugar Springs Drive home and at least one other related property, reportedly overseeing around 37 short-term rental properties, including Airbnbs.
Solomon was arrested shortly after the January 31 raid and initially booked on state charges of disposing and discharging hazardous waste, stemming from improper handling of materials like hydrochloric acid. Federal authorities later charged him with being a prohibited person in possession of firearms – illegal under his visa status – after discovering multiple weapons, including a Glock handgun, ammunition, and an Israeli-made rifle during searches.
He appeared in federal court in early February, where prosecutors noted his possession of both an Israeli and a French passport. On February 6, U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna Youchah ordered his release on personal recognizance bond. Conditions include surrendering his passports, remaining in the continental United States, notifying the court of any travel outside the Las Vegas area, and other restrictions. Solomon has local ties, including a residence and family (three children mentioned in documents), with no prior criminal history cited.
No direct federal charges related to operating the biolab have been filed against Solomon as of mid-February, though authorities describe him as a key associate or "agent and conspirator" in communications with Zhu. The investigation remains ongoing, with potential links to broader multi-state concerns involving unlicensed biological operations.
Law enforcement officials, including LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill and FBI representatives, have stressed the collaborative effort and that the incident appears isolated. Updates are expected as testing on the seized samples concludes and any additional charges emerge.
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