German company Master-Equipment is facing criminal charges, after an FBI investigation revealed the company smuggled imitation police badges.

According to The Associated Press, a federal case has been built against the company for trafficking the false badges, which looked "virtually identical" to those worn by the FBI and other officers of the law. They are also charged with manufacturing and selling the items.

"The dismantling of a foreign-based company's ability to sell counterfeit U.S. law enforcement badges to a U.S. market is critical in the post 9/11 era," FBI agent J. Britt Johnson said in a written statement.

The case began in April, stemming from the arrest of a convicted felon in Doraville, Georgia. Reports indicate Daniel Harbison had been using one of Master-Equipment's products to impersonate a federal officer.

Harbison was also armed with a handgun and using police-style flashing lights on his vehicle. He was discovered when he attempted to pull over an off-duty cop. He later pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 21 months in prison.

An investigation alerted federal authorities to a company based in Kaarst, Germany. They were able to shut down one of the company's websites, but discovered Tuesday that the company was selling various other badges from another source.

The website reportedly implied it was legal for people to purchase the products as collector's items, offering badges that represented agencies such as the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service, Federal Air Marshall Service and a number of police departments, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

U.S. federal law stipulates that it is illegal to sell badges used by U.S. law enforcement agencies, "regardless of whether they are used by collectors, theatrical productions, or any other purpose."

Master-Equipment is facing six counts for trafficking counterfeit goods that can confuse and deceive others.