Jackson Businessman Pleads Guilty to Fraud

A Jackson party store owner was sentenced today to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to a fraud scheme to burn down his store to collect insurance proceeds, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today                         

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Robin Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives (ATF), Marlon Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Director Matthew Heins, Jackson Police Department.

Rajinder Singh, 25, formerly of Jackson, Michigan was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Judith Levy in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Judge Levy also ordered Singh to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000. 

According to court records, Singh admitted that in May 2014, he conspired with others to intentionally set fire to his business, Robinson’s Party Store, located at 1233 S. West Avenue, Jackson, Michigan. The object of the conspiracy was to obtain the insurance proceeds for the business.  Singh agreed to pay the men to set the fire. In pleading guilty to charges of  conspiracy to commit malicious use of fire, wire fraud, misleading communication to hinder investigation of a federal offense and immigration document fraud, Singh admitted to making a fraudulent claim to his insurance company.  Singh also admitted that he lied to a police detective by falsely stating that the fire was likely racially motivated on the mistaken belief that he is an "Arab."  Singh filed a claim with his insurance company seeking payment of at least $400,000 for the damage to his building, the inventory lost in the fire and lost business income.

A month after the fire, Singh, prepared, or caused to be prepared, a Department of Homeland Security Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) in an attempt to become a naturalized United States citizen. Several questions on the form required Singh to disclose his entire criminal history, even crimes for which he had not been charged. In response to those questions, Singh answered falsely when asked if he had ever committed, assisted in committing or attempted to commit a crime or offense for which he had not be arrested. Singh signed the form under penalty of perjury and mailed it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices.

“Committing any fraud scheme harms victims, but intentionally setting a fire creates a danger to public safety and firefighters that far exceeds the financial loss,” McQuade said.  “This defendant attempted to exploit laws designed to protect people from hate crimes.” 

“Arson for profit is not a victimless crime. Our communities as a whole become the victims because arson destroys property and places and increases economic burden on our communities”, said ATF Special Agent in Charge S. Robin Shoemaker.   “ATF is committed to the investigation and prevention of arson and arson for profit schemes. I would also like to thank the Jackson Police and Fire Departments, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs and the Eastern district of the United States Attorney’s Office.” 

“Rajinder Singh sentence reflects his selfish actions of setting his business on fire to collect insurance money and used race to fuel his lie. He placed peace officers and firemen lives in danger, in the name of greed,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Detroit.  “HSI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and expose fraudulent activities regardless of the scheme.” 

“This case is another outstanding example of interagency cooperation leading to conviction of Mr. Singh for his criminal activity in the City of Jackson, stated Chief Heins.  "The ongoing partnership between the Jackson Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Attorney’s Office is invaluable in a case of this nature.  Jackson Police Department Detectives Holly Rose and Gary Schuette were instrumental in bringing this case to the forefront.”

McQuade thanked the agents of ATF for their investigation of the case.  She also thanked the Jackson Police Department for assisting in the investigation

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John O’Brien and Shane Cralle.