"This has been a months-long investigation"
A US Indian councilman has been arrested as part of an alleged arson and insurance fraud ring.
Aaron Pamma, Vice Mayor of Live Oak, California, was booked into jail alongside his brother Simren Pamma, who is a trustee of the Live Oak Unified School District, and their associate Gurtej Singh.
Each man was arrested under a $1 million warrant issued by the county’s Superior Court.
The arrests stem from a fire that occurred on February 17, 2024, at a farmhouse on Old Ferry Road in Butte County.
Investigators allege the incident was part of a conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
According to the District Attorney’s office, Singh had bought the farmhouse in April 2023 through a US Department of Agriculture mortgage programme.
He transferred 50% of the property to Aaron and Simren Pamma the following month.
Authorities said the Pammas are brothers and that Singh is a friend of theirs.
Cal Fire investigators later determined Singh took out a homeowner’s insurance policy just three months before the blaze. He is accused of filing a fraudulent insurance claim after the fire severely damaged the property.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said:
“This has been a months-long investigation by our local Cal Fire investigators that started out with an investigation of a fire on the west side of Butte County.”
Soon after the fire, the three men reportedly sold the property and collected an insurance payout. Officials said the alleged scheme generated more than $200,000 in profit.
Each man faces arson charges.
Aaron Pamma also faces charges of fraud, perjury, supporting a false insurance claim, and conspiracy to destroy insured property for fraudulent purposes.
Simren Pamma faces an additional count of conspiracy to destroy insured property for fraud.
Singh has been charged with fraud, wire fraud, presenting a false insurance claim, perjury, and destruction of insured property.
A fourth person, Javier Molina-Bravo, from Tehama County, has also been implicated in the case.
Molina-Bravo, who owns Big Dog Handyman, was hired by the trio to carry out renovation work on the farmhouse.
Investigators allege he used fraudulent cheques to buy building materials worth thousands of dollars from various suppliers in the Chico area.
Molina-Bravo was charged in March with multiple counts of cheque fraud. He failed to appear at a scheduled hearing in Butte County Superior Court and is now considered a fugitive.
Ramsey added:
“There very well may be other arrests and activity going out of this conspiracy.”
The joint investigation involved Cal Fire, the FBI, and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
Live Oak is located in the northeast of Sutter County, close to the Butte County border.
The affected property on Old Ferry Road lies near the Feather River, north of Oroville.
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