The Madera County Sheriff’s Office arrested 57-year-old Martha Gutierrez DeRomero. She is facing a felony insurance fraud charge after claiming two men stole her van with thousands of dollars’ worth of items inside – but, according to Sheriff Tyson Pogue, that was a lie.
On May 23, 2025, DeRomero reported a carjacking at knifepoint near Avenue 21 and Road 26. She claimed an unknown assailant stole her white Chevrolet panel van, which contained $60,000 worth of merchandise.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Tyson Pogue, investigated the incident and discovered it was a staged event orchestrated by DeRomero and her boyfriend, Alfredo Delezma, to commit insurance fraud.
The investigation revealed that the van, reported stolen, was later found by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office in a storage facility in Merced, along with the supposedly stolen merchandise. This discovery unraveled the scheme, confirming that no carjacking had occurred.
On May 28, 2025, DeRomero was arrested and booked into Madera County Jail on charges of felony insurance fraud, conspiracy, and filing a false police report. Authorities indicated that Alfredo Delezma may also face charges for his role in the conspiracy, although no further details on his status were provided in the reports.
The case was reported by multiple news outlets, including ABC30 Fresno, ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC7 Chicago, and KMPH, all citing the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Pogue commended the deputies for their thorough investigation, which prevented an fraudulent insurance claim. For further information, contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770 or visit www.maderacounty.com/sheriff.