Raymond Whelan, 49, of Cheektowaga, NY, is headed to federal prison for 24 months after being convicted of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, including hundreds of fake automobile airbags sold online under major brand names. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara handed down the sentence in Buffalo, sealing the fate of a man who turned a backyard operation into a dangerous fraud targeting unsuspecting car owners.
Between June 2015 and March 2016, Whelan ran an online auto parts business called Rayscarparts71.com, where he marketed and sold counterfeit airbags bearing fake trademarks of Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, Hyundai, Acura, and Mitsubishi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who prosecuted the case, revealed that Whelan never had authorization from any manufacturer to use their branding — all of it stolen, all of it illegal.
The airbags, sourced from co-defendant David Nichols, were shipped from China either mislabeled or in disassembled parts to slip past customs. Once received, Whelan assembled the units himself — despite having no technical training — and listed them on eBay as “genuine used” safety equipment. Buyers thought they were getting reliable replacements. Instead, they got ticking time bombs.
Undercover agents made multiple purchases from Rayscarparts71, leading to the seizure of dozens of counterfeit airbags from Whelan’s business. Forensic analysis confirmed every unit was fake. None met manufacturer safety standards. The Department of Justice calculated Whelan imported and sold approximately 360 counterfeit airbags, each with an average retail value of $650. That totals $236,600 in intellectual property infringement and consumer deception.
David Nichols, Whelan’s supplier and co-conspirator, has already been convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Authorities say Nichols was responsible for locating Chinese factories willing to produce knockoff parts at scale. Together, the pair exploited online marketplaces to launder counterfeit goods into the U.S. auto repair economy — a network built on fraud and fueled by demand for cheap replacements.
The case was led by Homeland Security Investigations, under Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and Customs and Border Protection, directed by Rose Brophy, Director of Field Operations. Federal prosecutors warn that counterfeit safety components like airbags aren’t just illegal — they’re potentially deadly. Whelan’s conviction sends a message: selling fake life-saving equipment will earn real prison time.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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