Sacramento area co-workers charged for insurance fraud and arson in $30,000 scheme
News: 2020 Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Co-workers Rajdeep Singh, 35, of Rocklin, and David Bailey, Jr., 29, of Sacramento, were arrested on multiple counts of insurance fraud and arson after allegedly conspiring to commit vehicular arson in order to receive an undeserved insurance payout of over $30,000.
On June 24, 2019, Sacramento Fire Department (SFD) responded to a vehicle fire in a parking lot and identified the vehicle as a 2016 Honda Pilot. The morning of the fire, the registered owner's son, Singh, arrived on the scene and claimed the vehicle had been stolen while he was working at his job, Primetime Autos, a used car dealership where he worked as a finance manager.
Singh filed a claim with his parents' insurance company on their behalf and during the claims review process gave the insurance company his cell phone call logs. A joint investigation by the California Department of Insurance and SFD revealed the records Singh provided to the insurance company discredited his statement regarding his activities around the time of the fire. It was discovered that Bailey, who also worked at Primetime Autos, burned the vehicle at Singh's request. Bailey confessed he received $500 from Singh for the arson. The joint investigation prevented a potential $30,500 loss to the insurance company.
Singh self-surrendered on October 19, 2020, and Bailey was arrested on October 21, 2020. Singh was charged with one felony count of arson and two felony counts of insurance fraud. Bailey was charged with one felony count of arson and one felony count of insurance fraud. This case is being prosecuted by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
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Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.