A Raleigh man, employed by the NC Department of Transportation, has entered a guilty plea for importing and selling counterfeit car airbags. Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian, age 31, funneled around 2,500 fake airbags into the Raleigh market from May 2022 to April 2024, as disclosed by court documents. The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that these airbags, bearing falsified branding of Honda, Chevrolet, General Motors, and Toyota, were sold on Facebook Marketplace, where Alinaghian operated under the aliases “Matt AutoParts” and “Medo Smith."
Despite the illusion woven by counterfeit marks, the real manufacturers – Honda, General Motors, and Toyota – upon testing, confirmed that the safety devices were indeed shams, often constructed with inferior materials. Failing to fully inflate or inflating late during tests, these pretenders introduced unsuspecting drivers to potential peril. The investigation ensued with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Department of Transportation leading the charge, resulting in a raid on Alinaghian’s residence and intercepting shipments of counterfeit airbags from the United Kingdom by Customs and Border Control.
In response to the deceit, Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar lauded the investigative team's dedication, stating, "In this case, the defendant put profit over safety by selling counterfeit airbags that had the potential to put drivers in harm's way if the airbags malfunctioned during a collision," as reported by U.S. Attorney's Office. Cardell T. Morant of HSI also emphasized the gravity of counterfeit airbags on consumer safety. N.C. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall credited the collaborative effort with law enforcement and stakeholders as pivotal in addressing this dangerous fraud.
The organized crime did not conclude with local clandestine operations but spanned internationally, compelling HSI to unite with foreign law enforcement. Subsequently, the City of London Police's Intellectual Property Crime Unit executed a warrant in the UK in September 2024, seizing 500 more fake airbags and arresting three men for fraud and money laundering. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urged individuals who suspect they have purchased a counterfeit airbag to seek verification from their brand’s dealership or a trusted mechanic and report any issues to their local HSI office or submit complaints online.
The case’s prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton. Victims of the counterfeit airbag scheme, whether through purchase or injury, are encouraged to contact HSI at 919-677-6392, as noted in the U.S. Attorney's announcement. With the guilty plea now registered, the judicial gears turn towards sentencing and delivering a measure of justice for those whose trust—and safety—was bartered away in a hazardous trade of counterfeit airbags.
