SACRAMENTO— On November 17, 2020 the California Department of Insurance announced that 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 parking lot where a 2016 Honda Pilot was on fire.  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.

According to the California Department of Insurance, 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.

“Auto insurance fraud is a major problem in California as those with criminal intent look at their benefits as free for the taking,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Insurance detectives are very successful in their investigations and have proven that those who commit insurance fraud will be identified and held accountable.”

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.