Latest news with #GurtejSingh
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
Northern California city councilor among 3 arrested in alleged arson, insurance fraud scheme
A city councilman in the Northern California city of Live Oak was one of three men arrested this week in an alleged arson and insurance fraud conspiracy ring, authorities announced Friday. Live Oak Vice Mayor Aaron Pamma, 30, was booked into jail on Thursday along with Simren Pamma, 28, who is a Live Oak Unified School District board member, and Gurtej Singh, 28, the Butte County District Attorney's Office said. Each was arrested on a $1,000,000 warrant issued by the county Supreme Court. Live Oak Vice Mayor Aaron Pamma City of Live Oak The arrests were tied to a farmhouse fire that happened on Old Ferry Road on February 17, 2024. Singh purchased the property in April 2023 under a U.S. Department of Agriculture mortgage program and transferred 50% ownership of the property to Aaron and Simren Pamma the next month, the DA's office said. Singh, from Yuba City, was also found to have purchased home insurance three months before the property was severely damaged in the fire, Cal Fire investigators found. He then allegedly filed a false insurance claim on the property. Not long after the fire, the three men sold the Old Ferry Road property and collected an insurance payment, acquiring more than $200,000 in profit, the DA's office said. Each faces charges of arson, the DA's office said. Aaron Pamma faces additional charges of fraud, perjury, supporting a false insurance claim, and conspiracy to destroy insured property for fraud. Simren Pamma faces an additional charge of conspiracy to destroy insured property for fraud. Singh faces additional charges of fraud, wire fraud, destroying insured property for fraud, presenting a false insurance claim, and perjury. A fourth individual, Javier Molina-Bravo, was charged in Butte County Superior Court in March with multiple felony counts of check fraud, the DA's office said. Molina-Bravo, 37, from Tehama County, owned Big Dog Handyman and was hired by the other three men to renovate the farmhouse. Investigators found that Molina-Bravo used fraudulent checks to purchase thousands worth of materials for the renovation from businesses around Chico. Malina-Bravo is a wanted fugitive after failing to appear for a scheduled hearing in Butte County Superior Court. The investigation was a joint operation involving the FBI, Cal Fire and the Butte County DA. Live Oak is a city in the northeast corner of Sutter County, near the border of Butte County. Old Ferry Road runs along the Feather River on the north end of the Butte County city of Oroville.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Illegal shops linked to drug smuggler demolished in Patiala
Patiala: In a joint operation led by the district administration, the municipal corporation and the Patiala police, four unauthorised commercial shops were demolished in Baba Deep Singh Nagar here on Tuesday. The shops were illegally constructed on residential plots without getting the required approval from the MC. SP (City) Palwinder Singh Cheema, who supervised the operation, said the action was part of the Punjab govt's ongoing campaign 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (War Against Drugs). "Those involved in the drug trade will not be spared," he said, adding that Gurtej Singh alias Bunty, a family member of the owner of the demolished shops, was facing two cases of drug smuggling. The shops were located on Street No. 4, Baba Deep Singh Nagar, under the jurisdiction of Urban Estate police station. The SP informed that Gurtej Singh illegally constructed the shops on residential property. Gurtej is currently lodged in Patiala jail. The demolition was carried out following a final demolition notice issued on April 11 by the municipal commissioner. The operation was conducted under the supervision of assistant town planners Karanjit Singh and Bikramjit Singh, with police deployed to maintain law and order. Naib tehsildar Arman Joshan served as the duty magistrate.
