This delay has opened the door for the defense to file a motion for a new trial, prolonging the judge's final decision.
Following a two-week trial in May, Zhu, 64, a Chinese national, was found guilty of conspiracy, selling more than 1 million false COVID-19 tests from the Fresno County facility and lying to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba, the conviction marked a significant milestone in a case that drew international attention.
"It's been a big relief for most of us that there is some finality to this," Zieba said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Reedley warehouse housed at least 20 infectious pathogenic agents, including HIV and tuberculosis, as well as a freezer labeled "Ebola."
Zieba said she remains surprised that none of Zhu's convictions were connected to those discoveries.
"The viruses, the diseases, the things that were found in there that nobody wants to be near, but none of his charges, none of his convictions, were related to anything with those biologicals," Zieba said.
The future of the Reedley facility also remains uncertain.
Nearly four years after investigators discovered the lab, a green garden hose that originally led them to the site still protrudes from the side of the abandoned warehouse. Weeds have overtaken the property, and the building remains largely unchanged.
"We still have pallets of pallets of illicit tests in that building the pregnancy tests and the COVID tests that got him convicted. I was still sitting in 850 I Street and the state is the entity that needs to destroy those," Zieba said.
A judge has cleared the way for the state to destroy the products stored inside the facility. Once that process is complete, the property owner, who is based in the Bay Area, will have the option to either demolish the building or bring it up to code.
As Zhu's sentencing remains pending, some local officials continue to await what they consider an appropriate outcome.
"I hope he does see a pretty significant prison term because he has put this country through its paces," Zieba said.
The new sentencing date is now October 26th. Zhu could face a sentence of close to 30 years in prison.
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