A North Texas vape shop owner from Garland admits to importing and selling phony products.
Federal prosecutors say at least one of the counterfeit items sold by 36-year-old Muhammad Khalid Uzair Khalid contained a substance that was later linked to health problems among people who used e-cigarettes.
Prosecutors say Uzair admitted to working with manufacturers in China to import phony items, including vaping atomizers and other products, and mislabeled them with logos and packing of well-known legitimate companies.
Investigators seized several items that tested positive for THC at his store in November 2019. They also found an injector mechanism that was filled with Vitamin E acetate. That substance was later linked to vaping-related lung injuries around the country.
"Our investigation made clear that we needed to take swift action against counterfeit vaping-related items," said U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas. "The Justice Department will not tolerate the importation of these types of black-market goods."
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