The auto parts supplier’s Chapter 11 case will convert to a Chapter 7 liquidation after a federal judge rejected its proposed creditor repayment plan, bringing First Brands’ nearly yearlong bankruptcy process toward a close. First Brands Group emerged as an aftermarket automotive parts supplier in North America through a debt-fueled acquisition strategy. A Texas judge’s ruling rejecting a plan for First Brands, the bankrupt auto parts giant that pinned its recovery hopes on a litigation trust, sends a caution that a liquidating Chapter 11 plan must be feasible. Bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands is close to a settlement with its creditors, seeking to wind down most of its operations while teeing up separate sales for four of its business lines. First Brands Group entered Chapter 7 liquidation after a judge rejected its bankruptcy plan. See fraud charges, creditor impact, and what happens next. On September 28, 2025, First Brands filed for bankruptcy. Even as the frauds unraveled and First Brands’ financial issues mounted, PATRICK JAMES, the defendant, continued to enrich himself as the owner of First Brands. Here’s what we know about Brand’s potential sentence. How Long Could Russell Brand Go to Jail? Brand could face a substantial prison sentence. Russell Brand is in custody ahead of sentencing on 9 November. What happens on remand, how the judge sets his term and when he could be released. First Brands Group filed Chapter 11 in 2025. Here is what happened to its brands, the alleged fraud case, asset sales, liquidation plan and consumers. The First Brands liquidation plan advanced on June 12, 2026, when a federal bankruptcy judge approved the auto parts maker’s request to solicit creditor votes on its wind-down proposal. A final confirmation hearing is scheduled for July.