An estimated 81,000 Michigan vehicles may be equipped with counterfeit restraint systems -- parts that fail in more than 80% of crashes -- prompting the state’s first charges from its newly expanded Auto Fraud Task Force.
Dinas Kamaitis, 31, of New Baltimore, MI, was arraigned April 9 before Judge John Chmura in the 37th District Court in Warren, MI, on multiple felony charges for allegedly selling counterfeit airbags and other restraint components through his eBay store, according to a news release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Kamaitis faces nine felony charges, including one count of using a computer to commit a crime, four counts of delivering or possessing property with counterfeit identifying marks, and four counts of selling counterfeit supplemental restraint systems. The charges carry penalties ranging from four to seven years in prison.
Authorities also seized more than $600,000 from accounts linked to Kamaitis.
“Counterfeit parts are a serious public safety hazard on our roads,” said Nessel. “My newly expanded Auto Fraud Task Force is committed to holding accountable those who put Michiganders at risk, and I am confident that our continued partnership with the Michigan State Police will strengthen our efforts to combat this threat and keep drivers safe.”
According to the release, more than 80% of counterfeit airbags involved in collisions fail to deploy properly, posing a critical risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.
The Auto Fraud Task Force (AFTF), formerly the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, was expanded in January to address broader auto-related crimes, including insurance fraud and organized auto theft. The task force now works in close partnership with the Michigan State Police Metro Detroit Auto-Theft Recovery Team (MSP MDART), embedding a dedicated prosecutor to focus on dismantling large-scale auto theft rings.
