Manufacturer of defective bulletproof vests will pay $15 million

As part of the agreement with the government, Hexcel has pledged its cooperation in the government’s ongoing investigation of other participants involved in the fraudulent conduct, the Justice Department said.

The federal government alleges that Hexcel wove zylon fiber supplied by Toyobo Co. into ballistic fabric used in bulletproof vests sold by:

• Second Chance Body Armor.
• DHB Inc. and its subsidiaries, Point Blank Body Armor and Protective Apparel Corp. of America.
• Armor Holdings and its subsidiaries, American Body Armor and Safariland.
• Gator Hawk Armor.
  

The vests were purchased by the United States government directly and by various state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, which were reimbursed with federal funds.

U.S.: Zylon degraded quickly when exposed to heat, light and humidity

The U.S. government alleges that Hexcel knew that the zylon manufactured by Toyobo was defective and degraded quickly when exposed to heat, light and humidity. Additionally, the government alleges that the company knew that Toyobo provided Hexcel with “Red Thread” zylon, which was weaker than standard zylon.

“These defective vests were worn by federal officers, who side by side with the Department of Justice, enforce the laws of this nation, and by state, local and tribal officers, who are on the streets every day, contributing to a safer America,” said Peter Keisler, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Division and acting attorney general. “We will never tolerate fraud that places our first responders at risk.”

In July 2005, the Justice Department filed a complaint against Second Chance Body Armor and the Toyobo Co., seeking to recover damages relating to the sale of defective zylon bulletproof vests to the United States. In June, the government filed a lawsuit against Toyobo Co. Ltd. of Japan and its American subsidiary, Toyobo America Inc., for their roles in the manufacture and sale of defective zylon bulletproof vests to U.S., state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.