Memphis Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Motor Vehicle Airbags

Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Mohammed Al-Abadi, 52, to 24 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release for trafficking in counterfeit motor vehicle airbags and transporting a hazardous material on an aircraft carrier without declaring it as a dangerous good. The final sentencing hearing concluded on April 30, 2025, with the entry of an order by United States District Judge Mark S. Norris. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in Court, from 2017 to 2021, Mohammed Al-Abadi, a retired auto mechanic, imported counterfeit motor vehicle airbag parts from China and assembled the parts to make counterfeit airbags. Al-Abadi then sold the fake airbags on eBay to unsuspecting automobile repair shops and individual customers for prices ranging from $100 to $725 each. A shipment of counterfeit airbag parts, ordered by Al-Abadi, was intercepted by agents from the United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Federal agents recovered more than 2,000 counterfeit airbag parts and counterfeit airbags from Al-Abadi’s residence and place of business. Further investigation determined that Al-Abadi had sold more than 500 counterfeit airbags over the course of four years. Additionally, Al-Abadi shipped at least one counterfeit airbag by airplane without declaring it as an explosive device or dangerous good, so that the mandatory federal safety precautions could be taken.

“The importation of counterfeit automotive parts poses a significant safety threat to the American people, putting innocent consumers at serious risk of injury or death with the installation of these inferior airbags from China,” said Homeland Security Investigations Nashville Special Agent in Charge, Rana Saoud. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in investigating and disrupting these illegal operations to protect public safety and ensure the well-being of our communities.”

“Counterfeit airbags are neither regulated nor tested to meet federal safety standards, and they pose a serious risk to public safety—both during shipping and when unknowingly installed by consumers,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region. “Today’s sentencing underscores our ongoing commitment to working with law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to identify those who violate federal safety regulations and to help protect the public from these dangerous products.”

“As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety of our consumers,” said Atlanta Division Inspector in Charge, Rodney Hopkins. “Mr. Al-Abadi put profit over safety in this case. Airbags are critical life-saving devices that are designed to protect consumers. I am very proud of the teamwork displayed in this case between our law enforcement partners, which held Mr. Al-Abadi responsible for his criminal actions.”

Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case.

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