A 29-year-old man, who squatted in a private residence in Yosemite National Park for months was sentenced to more than five years in prison on weapon charges, federal prosecutors said.

Devin Michael Cuellar was sentenced to five years and three months on Monday after he was convicted of felonious possession of a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition while squatting on private property, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California said.

From May through September 2021, Cuellar lived in the home located on Hollar Road in Wawona, a community within Yosemite National Park.

The property owner contacted authorities in August, that same year, to report that her home had been vandalized and drug paraphernalia and trash were scattered about. When police conducted a search, they found firearms and other stolen items, according to court documents. 

According to prosecutors, Cuellar was previously convicted of carjacking and possessing controlled substances for sale and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. 

A 29-year-old man, who squatted in a private residence in Yosemite National Park was sentenced this week with weapon charges and will now serve more than five years behind bars, federal prosecutors

A scenic view of Yosemite National Park

A scenic view of Yosemite National Park 

Though the home's exact location or property size was not disclosed, homes in the area range from $279,000 upwards to $7.9 million. The Wawona Hotel is pictured

Though the home’s exact location or property size was not disclosed, homes in the area range from $279,000 upwards to $7.9 million. The Wawona Hotel is pictured 

Though the home’s exact location or property size was not disclosed, homes in the area range from $279,000 upwards to $7.9 million. 

The median listing price in the Wawona region runs an average of $1.09M, according to Redfin Real Estate Group.

Cuellar of Oakhurst, a community located approximately 30 minutes from Yosemite. 

The investigation was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program launched by the DOJ in May 2021 to reduce violent crime.

The name of the property owner was not disclosed, but she called authorities in August 2021 to report that her home had been broken into and vandalized. 

She told investigators she had last been at the property in April, prosecutors said.

When authorities searched the property, about a week later, they found mail addressed to Cuellar and stolen items, court documents revealed. 

In October 2021, the property owner contacted authorities again to report that a shotgun had been found inside a closet that did not belong to her, prosecutors said.

Cuellar denied he was Wawona, telling authorities he hadn’t been there ‘in years,’ according to court documents, the news outlet reported.

But, it was revealed that an underage female accomplice of Cuellar, had been interviewed.

The young woman admitted she knew the daughter of the property owner and that she stayed there with Cuellar.

It is unclear if the accomplice was charged in the crime, as well. 

Authorities later interviewed an underage female accomplice of Cuellar who admitted she knew the daughter of the property owner and that she stayed there with Cuellar.

Authorities later interviewed an underage female accomplice of Cuellar who admitted she knew the daughter of the property owner and that she stayed there with Cuellar.

The case was part of an investigation by the National Park Service and assisting agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service.

Additional agencies include, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. 

In May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The program is designed to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence with the goal of making neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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