A Raleigh man has admitted to importing and selling counterfeit car airbags, according to court documents. Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian, 31, pleaded guilty to importing approximately 2,500 counterfeit steering wheel airbags into the Raleigh area between May 2022 and April 2024. The counterfeit airbags bore fake markings of brands such as Honda, Chevrolet, General Motors, and Toyota.
Alinaghian sold these airbags through Facebook Marketplace using profiles named "Matt AutoParts" or "Medo Smith." He is currently employed as an engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Testing by Honda, General Motors, and Toyota revealed that the counterfeit airbags were not manufactured by these companies and often contained inferior materials. The tests showed that the airbags frequently malfunctioned by either not inflating fully or inflating late during collisions.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General. It included a search of Alinaghian’s residence where approximately 20 counterfeit airbags were seized. Customs and Border Control also intercepted packages from the United Kingdom containing counterfeit airbags destined for Alinaghian.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated: “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.”
Cardell T. Morant from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations emphasized: “Airbags are critical life-saving devices... Counterfeit airbags pose a serious threat to the safety of consumers.”
Greg Thompson from the Department of Transportation highlighted: “The sale of counterfeit air bags that are not regulated or tested... puts drivers and those on our nation’s roadways at serious risk.”
N.C. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall noted: “Selling and using counterfeit car airbags can have dangerous consequences... taking them off the market may have saved lives.”
Following HSI's identification of Alinaghian's UK supplier, law enforcement abroad executed a search warrant on September 19, 2024. The City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit seized 500 counterfeit airbags and £140,000 in cash while arresting three men suspected of fraud-related crimes.
A consumer alert from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported fatalities and injuries linked to substandard replacement airbags between September 2023 and July 2024.
Consumers suspecting they have purchased a counterfeit airbag should consult their brand’s dealership or a reputable mechanic for verification and report any findings to local authorities or relevant national agencies.
The announcement followed Alinaghian's guilty plea accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones in Raleigh federal court.