Police source describes falling 'deathly ill' after entering Las Vegas garage where biolab was found

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Court records obtained by Channel 13 reveal more information about the man who investigators say was managing the property where an illegal biological lab was found on Saturday.

Darcy Spears digs through new court records to report new details in this case:

Fifty-five-year-old Ori Solomon faces charges in both state and federal court after investigators seized guns, passports, and uncovered details about the alleged illegal biolab tied to a man who is currently in federal custody.

So far, in Clark County, Solomon faces one felony count of improper disposal of hazardous waste — specifically, hydrochloric acid. The charge comes under a Nevada law governing "weapons of mass destruction, lethal agents, toxins and delivery systems."

Solomon is also facing federal gun charges after authorities found bullets and at least six firearms during a search of his Las Vegas home on Saturday.

Police and court records reveal Solomon is an Israeli citizen who was admitted into the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa, which is valid until May. That visa prohibits him from having guns.

13 Investigates found a number of videos on Solomon's YouTube page, ranging from property tours to videos of industrial machinery and parts for sale. One video shows him troubleshooting a high-capacity bullet-making machine capable of producing more than 1,000 rounds per hour. Authorities have not yet commented on what that means for their ongoing investigation.

Records also reveal a number of new details about the alleged biolab.

Solomon reportedly manages 37 Airbnbs, including the house on Sugar Springs Drive where the biolab was found.

The lab was first reported to the FBI on Jan. 9 by a woman who only identified herself as Kelly. She told investigators she had worked as a house cleaner for several of Solomon's properties.

Kelly told authorities the garage door at the Sugar Springs home was normally kept locked, but when it was left unlocked, she noticed a foul "hospital" smell.

She and another employee both reported becoming "deathly ill" in April 2025, about five days after going into the garage. Their symptoms included "breathing issues, fatigue, couldn't get out of bed, and muscle aches." Both believed they were sick because of the biolab in the garage. Kelly also told the FBI that Solomon's wife got sick after entering the garage, and that "a lot of people in the house have gotten sick, including one female who ended up in the hospital with severe respiratory issues."

Police and court records show Solomon is employed by a Chinese citizen named Jia Bei Zhu, whom police identified as the owner of the home.

As Channel 13 has reported, the 2023 investigation that led to Zhu's arrest detailed the discovery of hazardous materials at a warehouse in Reedley. Investigators found vials with "'20 potentially infectious agents,' including HIV, Tuberculosis and the deadliest known form of Malaria." The warehouse also contained hundreds of lab mice and test kits for pregnancy, COVID-19 and HIV, investigators found.

Zhu is jailed in California and has pleaded not guilty to federal charges for wire fraud, conspiracy, distributing adulterated and misbranded COVID-19 tests, and lying to authorities.

According to the report obtained by Channel 13, Zhu and his associates attempted to license a medical laboratory in Las Vegas, on West Charleston Boulevard, but were unsuccessful.

Investigators believe materials from that lab may have been taken to other properties in Las Vegas linked to Zhu, including the home on Sugar Springs Drive that was searched on Saturday.

According to the report, phone records reveal Zhu called Solomon from jail approximately 467 times over the past year.

Records also link Solomon to YZ Company, which operates out of a location on Birtcher Drive in Las Vegas. Authorities speculated that property could also house biolab equipment, viruses, toxins, business documents and electronic storage devices related to Solomon's dealings with Zhu. When Channel 13 visited the property on Tuesday, we found the door boarded up.

Solomon is no longer in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. He made an initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday, and his federal detention hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon.