Tag Archives: Detroit

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Dealer Drama in Detroit: When “New” Cars Aren’t Really New

If you think dodgy dealership stories only happen in the movies, think again. Michigan is currently starring in its own automotive soap opera, with LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC of St. Clair taking center stage—and it’s not exactly winning an Oscar for honesty.

The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) recently pulled the dealership’s license, citing what it calls “imminent harm to the public.” That’s bureaucrat-speak for: your local dealer might be bending the truth about just how fresh that shiny new ride really is. LaFontaine, naturally, says it’s all just a case of outdated laws and clerical misunderstandings.

The Road to Trouble

Here’s where it gets sticky. Regulators allege that LaFontaine has been selling service loaners as brand-new vehicles. Think about that for a second: cars that have already been flogged around town with thousands of miles on the clock, handed out to customers while their owners wait for a warranty repair, and then listed online as factory-fresh. One vehicle reportedly had more than 6,000 miles under its belt—yet buyers were led to believe it rolled straight off the assembly line.

MDOS isn’t messing around. The department warned dealers across the state back in October 2024 to knock off this practice. Apparently, LaFontaine missed the memo. Inspectors found more than two dozen vehicles in the same situation during a routine check in September. The result? An immediate license suspension, grounding the dealership until further notice.

“Just a Clerical Error,” Says the Dealer

LaFontaine isn’t taking it lying down. The automotive group insists this is merely a paperwork snafu, blaming a “long-standing disconnect” between General Motors’ internal definitions and Michigan’s titling laws. According to the company, GM considers loaner and rental vehicles eligible for full warranties and incentives—technically “new” under automaker programs. Michigan law, however, is less flexible: loaners must be sold as used. It’s a classic case of corporate logic running headlong into bureaucratic reality.

Déjà Vu in Livonia

This isn’t LaFontaine’s first dance with the MDOS. Just last December, investigators temporarily pulled the license of LaFontaine Hyundai in Livonia over irregularities including missing titles, unclear odometer readings, and—yes—used cars masquerading as new. The company chalked it up to “a few rogue employees” and promised tighter oversight. Spoiler alert: apparently, the memo didn’t make it to St. Clair.

For car buyers, the lesson is simple: if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. For dealerships, it’s a reminder that clever accounting can only take you so far before the regulators show up with their clipboards. And for the rest of us? Well, it’s another reminder that in the automotive world, drama is as reliable as a turbocharged V8—fast, loud, and impossible to ignore.

Source: CBS News; Photo: LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC

News

Detroit’s Underground Export: Eight Indicted in Global High-End Car Theft Ring

The bigger a heist gets, the harder it is to keep under wraps. That reality just came crashing down for eight men from Southeast Michigan, who now face federal indictments for allegedly running an elaborate car theft and smuggling pipeline that stretched far beyond the Motor City.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the group operated between July 2023 and August 2025, lifting expensive rides off streets, driveways, and lots before funneling them into a shadow supply chain. Investigators say stolen cars were stashed at commercial and industrial properties, then tucked into shipping containers bound for ports with overseas buyers waiting.

The Eight in the Dock

The accused include Haydar Al Haydari, Karar Alnakash, Abbas Al Othman, Mohammed Al Hilo, Moustapha Al Fetlawi, Terrill Davis, David Roshinsky Williams, and Mohammed Al Abboodi. Each faces conspiracy charges to transport stolen vehicles—an offense that alone carries up to five years behind bars and a $250,000 fine. Add actual transport charges, and some could be staring at a decade in prison plus another $250,000 hit.

The Numbers Game

Federal investigators stress the scale of the case. “Our efforts have led to the recovery of over 350 stolen vehicles,” said ICE HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent Matthew Stentz. “In a state like Michigan, where cars aren’t just transportation, they’re part of our culture, these thefts hit home.”

The Department of Justice hasn’t confirmed exactly which “high-end” models were targeted, but local outlets have sketched the roster. Metro Detroit News reported the list included BMW X5s, Dodge Durangos, Dodge Rams, Range Rovers, Ford Broncos, and Chevrolet Camaros. Video footage from the investigation revealed even juicier hardware: a Cadillac Escalade, a Corvette, and at least two Ram TRXs—vehicles built to draw eyes on Woodward Avenue, not disappear into shipping crates.

Detroit has seen car theft rings before, but the international dimension here suggests a demand pipeline with global reach. It’s a reminder that modern vehicle theft isn’t just a teenager joyriding in a stolen coupe—it’s organized, profitable, and increasingly connected to overseas markets hungry for American SUVs and muscle cars.

For now, 350 cars are back where they belong, but plenty of questions remain—chief among them, how many more slipped through the cracks and are already prowling streets far from Michigan?

Source: metrodetroitnews via Instagram