Feb. 8, 2022—Federal prosecutors charged a Philadelphia man for installing cheap, counterfeit airbags into used cars to sell.
Emiliano Rodriguez is described as a "trained auto mechanic" who imported the airbags to bypass U.S. inspections, reports the Philly Voice. Customs and Border Protection officers first noticed a shipment of 12 airbag gas inflators in an international package in 2019.
An investigation led to Rodriguez, who was found with more than 450 counterfeit airbags at his home and business, the Voice reports. He allegedly installed the airbags into salvaged vehicles before reselling in a hot used car market.
