Vallejo woman accused of staging fake ‘violent’ carjacking

(KRON) — A Vallejo woman reportedly told sheriff’s deputies in Madera County on Friday that two masked men stole her van filled with tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise at knifepoint. Detectives conducting a follow-up investigation said the whole story was a lie.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) received a 911 call at 8 a.m. from Martha Gutierrez DeRomero, 57, of Vallejo, who told dispatchers that she was carjacked near Avenue 21 and Road 26. DeRomero said that her white Chevrolet van contained approximately $60,000 in merchandise that was meant to sell at an area swap meet, according to authorities.

In DeRomero’s version of events, she stopped the van on the side of the road to adjust a shifting load of the merchandise, which included fitness clothing, waist trainers and supplements, the sheriff’s office said. At that point, two masked men ambushed her and stole the van at knifepoint, DeRomero allegedly told authorities.

DeRomero provided a description of the suspects to deputies, and surrounding law enforcement agencies were notified, MCSO said.

During an interview between DeRomero and the sheriff’s office Investigations Division, detectives said they learned she and her boyfriend, identified as Alfredo Ledezma, 57, of Madera, staged the carjacking as part of an insurance fraud scheme.

The abandoned van was located, and the “stolen” merchandise was found stashed in a Merced storage facility, authorities said.

DeRomero was arrested and booked into the Madera County Jail for felony insurance fraud, conspiracy and filing a false police report. Ledezma may face charges for insurance fraud and conspiracy, according to MCSO.

“What began as a serious and concerning report of a violent carjacking quickly unraveled under careful investigation,” Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue wrote in a statement. “Attempting to exploit emergency services for personal gain is not only illegal, it diverts resources from those who truly need help. I’m proud of our team for seeing through the deception and holding those responsible accountable.”