Devin Michael Cuellar, Felon in Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun, California 2023

FRESNO, CA – A transient who turned a Yosemite National Park vacation home into his personal crash pad for months last summer has admitted to illegally possessing a dangerous weapon. Devin Michael Cuellar, 29, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition, a violation that could land him back in prison for a decade.

According to court documents, Cuellar brazenly broke into a private residence on Koon Hollar Road in Wawona, inside Yosemite, and simply moved in – without the owner’s permission. He remained there for several months, turning the property into an illegal base of operations. A search of the residence revealed the illegally modified shotgun and associated ammunition, quickly linking Cuellar to a serious federal offense.

This wasn’t Cuellar’s first run-in with the law. He’s already a convicted felon, with prior convictions for carjacking and possession of controlled substances with intent to sell. These convictions permanently stripped him of the right to own or possess any firearms or ammunition, making the discovery of the sawed-off shotgun a clear violation of federal law. The ATF took the lead on the investigation, backed by a multi-agency task force.

The case was a collaborative effort, involving the National Park Service, U.S. Marshals Service, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar will be prosecuting the case, seeking a substantial sentence for Cuellar’s repeated offenses.

Cuellar is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on September 5, 2023, for sentencing. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. However, the final sentence will be determined by Judge Thurston, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.

This case is being highlighted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence. The DOJ claims PSN fosters trust in communities, supports preventative organizations, and prioritizes strategic enforcement. Whether it makes a dent in the real problems on the streets remains to be seen, but for now, at least one illegal gun is off the streets and a repeat offender faces a serious reckoning.

Related Federal Cases