A federal judge has sentenced Mohammed Al-Abadi, a retired auto mechanic, to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for trafficking counterfeit vehicle airbags and illegally transporting a hazardous material by air, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Between 2017 and 2021, Al-Abadi imported airbag parts from China, assembled counterfeit airbags and sold them through eBay to repair shops and individuals across the U.S., charging between $100 and $725 per unit. Authorities say he sold more than 500 counterfeit airbags during this period.
Federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection recovered more than 2,000 counterfeit airbag components and completed airbags from Al-Abadi’s home and business during the investigation.
The court also found that Al-Abadi shipped at least one of these counterfeit airbags by airplane without properly declaring it as a dangerous good, violating federal laws requiring special handling of explosive or hazardous materials.
“The importation of counterfeit automotive parts poses a significant safety threat to the American people,” said Rana Saoud, special agent in charge of HSI Nashville. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in investigating and disrupting these illegal operations to protect public safety.”
Al-Abadi was indicted and arrested in 2023.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin. The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
