Devin Michael Cuellar, Firearms Possession, California 2022

FRESNO, CA – Devin Michael Cuellar, 28, a transient who took up residence in a stolen slice of Yosemite paradise, is facing a barrage of federal charges after a months-long investigation revealed a pattern of theft, destruction, and illegal firearm possession. A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment this week, painting a picture of a brazen squatter who treated a private residence within the park as his personal wrecking yard.

According to court documents, Cuellar broke into a home on Koon Hollar Road in Wawona during the summer of 2021 and remained there, uninvited, for several months. The owner returned to find the residence trashed and a laundry list of items missing: a toolbox, a flat screen TV, wrought iron candle holders, tools, and more. Investigators later discovered items stolen from other Wawona residents within Cuellar’s ill-gotten gains.

But the break-in and theft weren’t the extent of the offenses. A sawed-off shotgun, later confirmed to have Cuellar’s DNA on it, was recovered from the property, along with ammunition. This is particularly damning given Cuellar’s history. He’s a convicted felon, currently on parole, and prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions for carjacking and possession of controlled substances for sale. Authorities also allege he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and heroin at the time.

The investigation, a multi-agency effort spearheaded by the Yosemite National Park Service and assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service, and various state agencies, also uncovered that Cuellar allegedly lied to park rangers, falsely claiming he hadn’t been at the residence. This adds a charge of making false statements to the already lengthy list of accusations.

If convicted on all counts, Cuellar faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. The two firearms offenses each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Destruction of property and false statements could add another five years and a $250,000 fine. Receipt of stolen property carries a three-year maximum, and theft, one year. However, the actual sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other factors.

The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case. While Cuellar is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the evidence suggests a deliberate pattern of criminal behavior that exploited the tranquility of Yosemite National Park. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.

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