Prosecutors say thousands of vehicle parts were taken from Ford’s Rouge Plant and resold through Detroit businesses and online marketplaces.
DEARBORN, MI — A former Ford Motor Co. employee and three Dearborn men have been charged in an alleged auto parts theft and resale operation that authorities say involved thousands of components taken from Ford’s Rouge manufacturing complex and sold through local businesses and online marketplaces.
Wissam Faraj, 35, of Canton, and Aiman Kahil, 25, Firas Kahil, 36, and Badr Kahil, 63, all of Dearborn, were arraigned Nov. 10 in Dearborn’s 19th District Court. Each faces six felony charges: one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, four counts of receiving and concealing stolen property valued at $20,000 or more and one count involving property valued between $1,000 and $20,000. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The investigation began after Ford reported suspected employee thefts to Dearborn police on March 19, 2025, according to authorities. Investigators allege Faraj, who was then a Ford employee, removed new car and truck parts from the Rouge Plant and delivered them to Startec Auto businesses in Detroit. Prosecutors say members of the Kahil family were involved in selling the parts through the businesses as well as online. Faraj’s employment with Ford ended in 2025, but authorities have not publicly said whether his termination was directly tied to the investigation.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the alleged operation involved Ford parts worth millions of dollars, although prosecutors have not publicly provided a final total for the company’s losses. The criminal counts themselves involve several specific value thresholds. Another report based on information from prosecutors described more than $80,000 in parts connected to charged incidents. Worthy said the broader investigation involved a large quantity of merchandise, and thousands of parts were ultimately recovered.
Authorities allege that some parts were requested before they were taken from the plant. Investigators reviewed thousands of text messages, emails, photographs and other electronic records, along with surveillance footage, financial information and online accounts. Prosecutors say the evidence included communications about specific vehicle components and images connected to deliveries of parts. The merchandise included items such as headlights, bumpers and airbags.
Police also conducted controlled purchases as investigators traced parts from the Ford facility to Detroit businesses, authorities said. Search warrants were carried out in May 2025 at business locations and residences connected to the investigation. Investigators recovered thousands of Ford automotive parts and examined inventories as they worked to determine where the merchandise originated and how it was being sold.
Prosecutors allege the parts were offered through eBay, Facebook Marketplace and physical storefronts, often at prices below normal retail levels. Worthy described the alleged scheme as “lucrative, shameless, and absolutely illegal.” Authorities have not accused customers who bought the parts of participating in the alleged theft operation, and investigators have not publicly detailed how many transactions involved unsuspecting buyers.
The case followed an internal Ford investigation prompted by missing inventory, according to authorities. Ford’s Global Security team worked with investigators and turned information over to Dearborn police. In a statement reported by FOX 2 Detroit, Ford said it reviewed the suspected theft and unauthorized sale of company parts, took steps to strengthen security at its facilities and would continue cooperating with law enforcement.
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin credited Ford’s internal security operation and police investigators with developing the case. The investigation stretched for more than a year between the initial report, searches and review of electronic and physical evidence before charges were authorized. Authorities have not released a final accounting of the value of all parts they believe were stolen or recovered.
Faraj was given a $200,000 bond with GPS monitoring, while Aiman, Firas and Badr Kahil were each given $100,000 bonds with GPS monitoring. Their bond conditions require them to surrender their passports and bar them from leaving the state or country, transferring assets or property, or contacting Ford facilities and other locations involved in the investigation. A probable cause conference is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Author note: Last updated November 12, 2026.