LIVE OAK, CA — Live Oak Vice Mayor Aaron Pamma, 30, was among three men arrested this week in connection with an alleged arson and insurance fraud conspiracy, authorities announced Friday.
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Pamma, Simren Pamma, 28 — a Live Oak Unified School District board member — and Gurtej Singh, 28, were arrested on $1 million warrants tied to a farmhouse fire that occurred on February 17, 2024, on Old Ferry Road in Butte County.
According to investigators, Singh purchased the farmhouse in April 2023 using a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and transferred 50% ownership to Aaron and Simren Pamma the following month. He secured home insurance just three months before the fire.
Cal Fire and FBI investigators allege the trio orchestrated the blaze, filed a fraudulent insurance claim, and later sold the property, netting over $200,000 in profit from the insurance payout.
Each of the three men faces arson charges, with additional charges including fraud, perjury, wire fraud, and conspiracy to destroy insured property depending on their roles.
A fourth suspect, Javier Molina-Bravo, 37, of Tehama County — owner of Big Dog Handyman — was separately charged in March with check fraud after allegedly using fake checks to buy renovation materials. He is currently a wanted fugitive after missing a court appearance.
The case remains under investigation by the FBI, Cal Fire, and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
Live Oak is a city in northeastern Sutter County, near Butte County, where the fire occurred on Old Ferry Road in Oroville.
