Man pleads guilty to sale of fake car diagnostics

A man has pleaded guilty to selling fake versions of General Motors (GM) diagnostic devices used to spot problems with cars.

Justin DeMatteo pled guilty in a court in Virginia nine months after US federal agents seized fake GM diagnostic units in a raid on his property. DeMatteo bought counterfeit handheld computers from manufacturers in China and had the fakes shipped to customers who found him on eBay.

The case involved the sale of Take 2 handheld diagnostic devices and its accompanying CANdi modules with counterfeit GM marks. Mechanics use the devices to identify problems with GM cars through communication with on-board computer systems.

Investigators linked DeMatteo to the sale of nearly 100 counterfeit GM products. Fake devices were found at his property, along with computer records and documents linking him to the sale of Take 2 devices.

DeMatteo is to pay $328,500 in restitution to cover GM’s losses and forfeit a further $109,074. The court is due to sentence DeMatteo early next year.