Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, that four men have been charged in what authorities describe as an organized ring that stole new auto parts from inside Ford Motor Company plants and resold them online — an operation the prosecutor called "lucrative, shameless and absolutely illegal."
Who is charged?
According to the prosecutor's office, the four defendants are:
- Wissam Faraj, 35, of Canton, who worked at Ford's Rouge plant in Dearborn before the company terminated his employment in 2025.
- Aiman Kahil, 25, of Dearborn.
- Firas Kahil, 36, of Dearborn.
- Badr Kahil, 63, of Dearborn.
The three Kahils are a father and his two sons, associated with Startec Auto Parts in Detroit.
How the scheme allegedly worked
Prosecutors say the operation ran on a simple, repeated pattern: Aiman Kahil placed orders for specific parts, Faraj stole the new parts from the Ford Dearborn Rouge plant and delivered them to Startec Auto, and the Kahils then sold the parts at the shop and online, including on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Investigators say that in March 2025 alone, Faraj stole more than $20,000 worth of parts, delivered on March 8, 15 and 22. Prosecutors also cited a text-message order for headlights totaling more than $22,000.
A year-long investigation
The case began when Ford's Global Security team discovered parts missing from the plant, and the company reported the thefts to Dearborn Police on March 19, 2025. Police made a controlled buy from Startec Auto on April 8, 2025, and raids later recovered thousands of suspected stolen parts, including headlights, bumpers, steering wheels and wheel center caps.
Detectives reviewed thousands of messages, photos, surveillance videos and electronic records before charges were authorized.
The prosecutor did not announce a final total value for everything stolen, saying the full details will come out in court. The documented figures so far are the March 2025 thefts of more than $20,000 and the single headlight order of more than $22,000.
Possible penalties
Each defendant faces six felony counts, including conducting a criminal enterprise and receiving and concealing stolen property. The top charge carries up to 20 years in prison under Michigan law.
In a statement, Ford said its Global Security team launched a thorough investigation after it was notified of suspected theft and unauthorized sale of company parts at two manufacturing facilities, that it has strengthened security measures, and that it will continue cooperating with local authorities.
Important note: All four men are charged, not convicted. They are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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