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Martha Gutierrez Deromero told authorities that he stopped the Chevy van on his way to Swap Meat in a fruit tree just outside Madera, Central California.
The 57-year-old was traveling near the intersection of Avenue 21 and Road 26, a two-lane rural boulevard near the fire station on the morning of May 23rd.
At the exact moment she pulled, two masked men with knives approached Deromero and stole the van, she said.
It was a story of timing – poor for Delomero and coincidence for carjackers – that didn’t go very well with Madera County Sheriff’s deputies.
Authorities say the van includes items worth around $60,000, and includes fitness clothing, waist trainers and supplements.
(Madera County Sheriff’s Office)
Delomero’s story eventually collapses after multiple rounds of interviews with investigators. Authorities have determined that carjacking with quick cash targets through insurance fraud is nothing more than a hoax, sheriff’s officials said.
Delomero and her boyfriend Alfredo Ledezma, 57, were charged Friday with felony of insurance fraud and misdemeanor of filing a false police report, court records show.
“What began as a serious and concerning report of violent carjacking was quickly unraveled under careful investigation,” Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue said in a statement. “It’s not only illegal to try and misuse emergency services for personal gain, but it also distracts resources from people who really need help.”
Madera County Sheriff’s officials have not returned calls since they were seeking additional comment. Deromero and Ledezma could not be immediately contacted for comment. It is not clear if they have a lawyer.
Both returned to court on July 8 for an arrest hearing.
When Delomero called authorities just after 8am on May 23rd, when she reported that investigators had immediately begun action.
Deputies distributed descriptions of the vehicle and suspect. Authorities eventually discovered an abandoned white van in nearby Merced County and a storage locker containing items that matched the description of the stolen item.
In another round, detectives determined that Deromero and Ledezma had “staged the entire case” as part of the insurance fraud scheme, according to criminal charges filed in Madera County Superior Court.
“Our team is proud to have seen through the deception and held responsible responsibility,” Pogue said.
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