Ohio SWAT Team Sells Fake Bulletproof Vests Imported from China for Homeland Security Investigations

us news

by Richard Pollina

Potentially deadly situation.

According to Fox 8, the Department of Homeland Security has launched an investigation after police in Ohio were found to have purchased counterfeit bulletproof vests made in China for use by SWAT teams.

“The Department of Homeland Security notified us that the plates we had were part of a set of plates that turned out to be counterfeit and needed to be replaced,” said Akron Police Lt. Agostino Micozzi. ” he said. City Council meeting on Monday.

The report said an investigation into the fake life preserver revealed that the equipment was imported from China and did not meet National Institute of Justice standards.

“They are hard ceramic type plates,” Micozzi explained to the Akron City Council. “And there’s one in the front, one in the back, and one on each side. Just from rifle bullets and more dangerous weapons.”

Given how important this equipment is to law enforcement, Micozzi asked Congress for immediate funding to replace fraudulent body armor used by SWAT units. This protective gear costs a staggering $1,300 each.

The department will need to replace 40 plates at a cost of $52,000.

Without hesitation, the Akron City Council unanimously approved the request.

National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards for performance-level body armor require that bullets do not penetrate the vest and that the vest protects against blunt force trauma.

According to the agency’s website, “NIJ standards are the only nationally recognized standards for bulletproof vests worn by law enforcement officers and correctional officers.”

The issue of selling fake bulletproof vests made in China is not new in the United States.

In 2021, a Texas man pleaded guilty to selling “Chinese-made military helmets, bulletproof vests, and other products” to the U.S. State Department and other federal agencies, falsely claiming them to be U.S.-made equipment.

Top Body Armor owner Tanner Jackson, 32, could face up to 20 years in prison for the crime.

However, he ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of wire fraud and was sentenced to 33 months in prison, according to the Justice Department.

In March, a Washington state man also “knowingly and intentionally marketed and sold low-quality ballistic protection equipment manufactured in China to dozens of domestic law enforcement agencies and the U.S. military,” according to the Office of Inspector General. ” and faced long prison sentences. .

Jeffrey Mining, 42, owner of BulletProof-IT, falsely claimed that his equipment, including bulletproof helmets, shields and plates, was manufactured in the United States, when in fact it was purchased from a Chinese company. . December 2017.

Mr. Mining also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison and three years of supervised release.