US court gives fake airbag seller a 31-month jail term

A US court has sentenced a man who pleaded guilty to selling almost 2,000 counterfeit airbags to 31 months in prison.

Jason Jordon pleaded guilty in June to importing counterfeit airbags from China and reselling them online. From June 2011 to August 2012 the business generated sales of more than $440,000 but attracted the attention of US law enforcement agencies, notably Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

As part of its investigation, CBP seized $51,000 worth of Jordon's stock and advised him the airbags were counterfeit. Undeterred, Jordon continued to sell airbags online, leading ultimately to his arrest. As well as the 31 month prison sentence, Jordon must pay about $600,000 in restitution and forfeitures.

The sentencing comes two months after a Vancouver man was sent to jail for six months for selling 960 fake airbags on eBay and Craigslist. The offence could have led to a 10-year jail term, but the Canadian convict received a reduced sentence after reaching a plea agreement.