News

Actions

German firm charged for selling fake U.S. badges

Posted at 10:00 AM, Sep 29, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-29 11:00:05-04

Federal prosecutors say they've charged a German firm with selling and smuggling into the United States badges described as "virtually identical" to genuine badges worn by FBI agents and other law enforcers.

A federal complaint, unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta states that undercover operations resulted in the charges.

The probe stemmed from the April arrest of a man accused of posing as a federal officer in Georgia.

J. Britt Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI's Atlanta field office, said dismantling a foreign company's ability to sell counterfeit U.S. law enforcement badges is "critical in the post 9/11 era."

Federal authorities say they shut down one website used by Kaarst, Germany-based Master-Equipment.

Company representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

------------

Follow 41 Action News on Twitter

Like 41 Action News on Facebook