BulletProof-IT Sold Substandard Protective Equipment to U.S. Military, State Department, and Law Enforcement
Until it fails. And that happens when disreputable companies sell substandard equipment to government agencies.
One such company was BulletProof-IT, LLC, government officials say. Last week, BulletProof-IT owner Jeffrey Meining received a one-year sentence for charges related to fraudulently selling inferior protective equipment to multiple local, state, and U.S. government agencies and misrepresenting its origins, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Oregon District.
Meining, a resident of Washington State, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud at the end of 2023. After his year in prison, Meining must serve an additional three years of supervised release, according to last week’s court decision.
Falsified Tests
Government agencies must buy protective equipment that meets standards set by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), according to U.S.laws and regulations.
Prosecutors charge that Meining lied when he claimed the protective gear he sold to various law enforcement and government agencies was in compliance with NIJ safety standards and had passed mandatory testing.
Multiple federal agencies investigated these claims, including Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and criminal investigative units from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. They found that in some cases, Meining never submitted the products for testing, and in others, he falsified the results.
In 2021, U.S. Customs officials seized helmets and body armor plates from China destined for BulletProof-IT. Meining provided altered test results to Customs to have them release the shipment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As of the date of this article, claims that BulletProof-IT’s products pass U.S. safety standards are still posted on the company’s About Page.
Lying About Origins
Meining purported to sell U.S.-made protective equipment when he signed contracts with the U.S. government. However, much of what he provided was cheap Chinese exports, according to the multi-agency investigation.
Former Marine?
Meining formerly served in the U.S. Marines and provided contract security services to the U.S. State Department, according to an undated BulletProof-IT press release. The press release also identified BulletProof-IT as a disabled veteran-run business with Meining as its president and founder.
The Daily Muck was not able to immediately verify Meining’s military or disabled veteran status.
Ongoing Problem
This isn’t the first time U.S. agencies have unwittingly purchased substandard Chinese-made military equipment, much of which fails to meet safety standards.
Tanner Jackson of Celeste, Texas, pled guilty to a similar scheme in 2021. Jackson’s company sold body armor to the U.S. State Department, the Air Force, and National Guard units.
Jackson also falsified safety testing paperwork and lied about the origins of his products, which were made in China.
More recently, seven executives with Aventura Technologies pled guilty to wire fraud for selling Chinese-made surveillance and security equipment to the government that they falsely represented as U.S.-made. The company agreed to dissolve and end business operations in March 2024.
Still Active Website and Company
BulletProof-IT still appears to be in business with an active website and phone number. A recorded message at the company’s listed phone number advises prospective buyers to leave their contact information, and BulletProof-IT’s sales team will call back within 24 hours.
More From This Author
Human Traffickers Found Guilty in Forced Labor Scheme
Feature Teresa Tennyson | Sep 3, 2024
Former Army Green Beret Who Organized Failed Coup in Venezuela Charged by Feds
Feature Teresa Tennyson | Aug 5, 2024
High School Track Coach Targeted Minors. How Was It Allowed to Go On for So Long?
Feature Teresa Tennyson | Jul 23, 2024
Weekly Muck
Keep current on The Daily Muck’s latest by subscribing to our newsletter– the best of our weekly stories plus insights from our senior writers.
Weekly
Muck
Keep current on The Daily Muck’s latest by subscribing to our newsletter– the best of our weekly stories plus insights from our senior writers.