It seems that products such as purses and shoes aren’t the only items that run the risk of being counterfeit. The Ohioan ballistics company, ShotStop Ballistics LLC, is currently under federal investigation for allegedly supplying counterfeit body armor to law enforcement agencies across the country, including the Akron Police Department. The company ceased operations and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on May 4th in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Federal and State Investigation
Federal and state officials raided ShotStop in October 2023 in order to investigate claims that certain ballistic rifle plates were not manufactured in the U.S. or certified by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has alerted law enforcement agencies about the potential misrepresentation, warning that the integrity and effectiveness of the armor may have been compromised. Agencies that suspect they are in possession of affected plates have been advised to contact the federal authorities.
The Akron Police Department is among 56 customers that have filed warranty claims against ShotStop Ballistics in its Chapter 7 liquidation proceedings. Each of the former customers listed in the filing is attempting to recover funds spent on potentially faulty ballistic plates. Something that puts anyone using the plates in danger.
Replacing the Faulty Body Armor
Akron City Council approved a $60,000 expenditure in May to replace the compromised body armor for the SWAT team. The city will acquire 40 new sets of ballistic plates, costing approximately $1,300 each. Captain Augie Micozzi reassured officials that standard daily body armor remains unaffected and that the replacement effort is focused on ensuring maximum protection in high-risk situations.
ShotStop’s marketing team had promoted its products as the “world’s lightest, fastest, and most durable advanced body armor plates,” used by law enforcement, military personnel, security professionals, and civilians. The company’s bankruptcy filing lists $357,015 in assets and an estimated $642,000 in liabilities, with nearly 200 creditors, primarily investors.
Court records indicate that all of ShotStop’s inventory was seized following the October 2023 raid. By that time, the company was already facing lawsuits from investors alleging widespread financial fraud. The bankruptcy filing means the lawsuits are paused, and the company’s assets will be liquidated to pay off debts. Each of the 56 creditors listed in the October 8 filing is categorized as “unsecured” and “non-priority,” meaning they will only be paid after higher-priority debts are settled. It remains unclear how much, if anything, creditors will receive.
Nationwide Impact
The impact of ShotStop’s counterfeit body armor extends beyond Akron. Other law enforcement agencies in Ohio and nationwide have been affected, including the Columbus Division of Police, the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, the Rocky River Police Department, and the NASA Glenn Research Center. Nationally, agencies such as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Alaska State Troopers, the U.S. Marshals Service in Tucson, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Kansas City office have also been impacted. Some agencies, like police in Bismarck, North Dakota, have not yet filed claims in bankruptcy court.
Attorney Peter Tsarnas of Gertz & Rosen is representing ShotStop and its owner, Val Iliev. Tsarnas has not yet responded to any media inquiries. The Akron Police Department has declined to provide further comment as the investigation remains active. Let us know what you think about the situation in the comments below!
