A New Baltimore man accused of trafficking counterfeit automotive parts has been sentenced to probation after a state investigation uncovered fake airbags, bumpers, and brand-name components tied to several major automakers.
The Sentence
Macomb County Circuit Judge Julie Gatti sentenced Dinas Kamaitis on Tuesday, Nov. 18, to:
- 1 year of probation
- 1 day in the Macomb County Jail (with credit for time served)
- Mandatory employment of at least 30 hours per week
- No contact with General Motors or Stellantis
- Court-approved travel only for work purposes
Court records show Kamaitis must also forfeit $65,000 and owes $20,000 in restitution.
The Plea Deal
Kamaitis pleaded guilty in September to one count of using a computer to commit a crime.
At sentencing, the judge dismissed eight remaining charges, which included:
- Counterfeiting / delivery / possession of counterfeit property
- Knowingly selling counterfeit, nonfunctional, or noncompliant supplemental restraint systems
The Allegations
According to the original warrant, Kamaitis was accused of offering to sell or possess counterfeit components tied to a half-dozen major automakers, including:
- Stellantis (grilles, bumpers, logos)
- Chevrolet bumpers and airbags
- Ford bumpers
- GM, Honda, and Subaru airbags
He was 31 years old when he was featured in a May report highlighting the growing national concern over fake auto parts.
Broader National Context
Federal officials have warned about a sharp rise in counterfeit automotive components entering the U.S. market.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data:
- More than 211,000 counterfeit automotive parts were seized in fiscal 2024 — nearly double the previous year.
- That included over 490 counterfeit airbags, more than ten times the amount seized in 2023.
- At that time, Homeland Security Investigations reported around 40 open cases tied to counterfeit auto parts.
In fiscal year 2023, federal authorities intercepted about 20,000 shipments of intellectual-property-violating goods, totaling 23 million counterfeit items worth more than $2.75 billion if genuine. Nearly 100,000 of those items were counterfeit auto components valued at over $10 million.
Attorney General’s Office Response
Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office has continued targeting counterfeit parts schemes due to the risks they pose to drivers, especially when fake airbags or safety components enter the supply chain.
An AG spokesman earlier declined to comment on how many parts Kamaitis was believed to have sold or where he sourced them.