A large stash of stolen merchandise valued at more than $700,000 was found inside a Pittsburg home and at a storage facility, and a suspected member of an organized retail theft ring was arrested, authorities said.
Julio Cuellar, 45, of Pittsburg was taken into custody after search warrants resulted in stolen goods from several stores, including CVS Health, Target, RiteAid, Safeway, Sunglass Hut, Macy’s, Lululemon, and Total Wine and More, according to the California Highway Patrol.
While searching the Pittsburg home, investigators with the CHP’s Golden Gate Division learned Cuellar leased several storage units at a nearby storage facility. A second search warrant served at the storage units turned up additional stolen merchandise.
The stolen items have been linked to thefts throughout the state, with a total value of $715,000.
Cuellar was taken into custody on suspicion of several crimes, including organized retail theft and conspiracy, and booked at Solano County Jail.
UPDATE: The suspect has been released (see below).
56 comments
I’m sure he’s already been released.
You are right! He was released the next day…
Only in California 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Make sure you vote for Becton for more of this fun.
But will he be punished?
Heck no he is packing his stuff to go to Mexico as we type.
All of these criminal activities should never be allowed to happen. Justice is just not strong enough to slow it down. It is so discouraging for me as an old guy that this is what I am leaving behind.
How long of a sentence do you folks think he’ll get (if convicted)?
715k, nothing to sneeze at…hope it has enhancements…
Do you even know what enhancements are or how they work? Without googling it and trying to push off a slightly altered basic answer as your own? Highly doubtful from the tone of your post
Diana probably already released him on a cashless bail.
Judges order bail and release, not district attorneys.
This was in Solano County. Diana Becton isn’t the DA there. Although this outcome would be the same most likely had she been
..good job LE! …now if Becton will keep him in longer than dinner time
Just stealing all this junk is kind of stupid. You need to fence it for cash so you can buy drugs or what ever you want. Perfect example of crime does not pay.
Fencing these days is as simple as listing your product on eBay.
Or…selling the stuff at the West Wind Solano Drive-In in Concord.
Curious about the criminal/incarceration history of this person.
Again, California’s redistribution of wealth program on display.
Arrest is only part of the equation….we know the rest of the story already as we have seen it unfold many, many times. So sad. Do the voters of this state/county care? Apparently never enough of them do and that is unfortunate.
He was immediately released on 0 charges and thrown a pizza party, funded by tax dollars, to the tune of $175,000.
Well, he was taken to Solano County jail, so he may not be home by now……
Dang it. Solano is just as bad as Contra Costa
he gone.
Vote Becton OUT !!!
Just got a recommendation for this guy Ben Therriault for Sheriff by are not so esteemed congressman what’s his name. Doesn’t it seem that are old sheriff is OK?
It’s a shame that we don’t have a choice for Sheriff who will actually issue CCW permits.
@Chicken Little….Why bother with a CCW permit, carrying illegally is a misdemeanor in CA, not much more ,if any, than a speeding ticket.
Well … it’s official … grand theft is now legal in California … You’re doing a heckofa job Newscum.
Retailers have insurance, they get some product back. Criminal runs off to Mexico, saving tax payers some chump change and life goes on. Not like the prisons have enough guards anyway.
Wrong answer bubba … Of course you are entitled to believe whatever you want, but USA has laws. I say we need more Dirty Harolds and fewer mentally challenged political hacks …
He’s probably already left to head to the southern”border”. Diana Becton had nothing to do with it-he was arrested in Solano County. I would like to know if
he posted bail, or was released on ROR- usually ROR takes more time.
He said they were gifts. He is an honest person.
SEE! Told everybody! …he was released in time for dinner! …. what’s it take to hold anybody anymore? …..oh yeah.. I know ….disgusting….
Everyone here is responsible for the state of our state. Trust me, my instinct is to blame democrats because they are in control of everything and have been for decades here in the the san francisco bay area. It’s not “the democrats”, It’s all of our faults for letting people get away with thinking stupid things.
Criminals commit crime until they have had enough punishment and change their ways. There is no changing this fact. No amount of compassion or understanding or social justice talking points that can rehab someone living that life.
With left digit bias and liberal logic, $715 is less than $950 so it’s a misdemeanor and no charges will be filed.
Thats $715.000 not $715,00 hardly a misdemeanor
Hey Blueberry after re-reading Your comment what You said is right on and didn’t need any corrections or commenting on My end sorry about that.Since I could find no easy way to delete it then we will just have to live with it for now I just wanted to let You know no offense.to You
Not in custody? Wow. Just wow.
And, just another glaring example of how the California government – at all levels – cares, supports and encourages criminals and crime. Meanwhile, honest, law abiding and hard working citizens pay the price for it all, and get the shaft.
They didn’t find any baby formula did they? Only kidding, I know all the baby formula is down at the boarder. Pallets of the stuff provided by Joe Biden. See how I worked that sorry.
Cautiously disinformed.
Right brother.
You tell that to a cop’s face, hey copper I heard that you were supporting and encouraging criminals.
K,
So you are implying that the police are also the ones responsible for criminals being released back into society after being arrested? I’ve haven’t heard that one. From all that I’ve seen the police officers are risking their lives daily to protect society, while its the politicians that are in favor of letting criminals run wild in our communities. I blame politicians, not police officers. Do yourself a favor and try looking into who’s really responsible it all.
Didn’t they find any cash? Guy’s gone if he still has a large amount of money hidden.
Stop complaining. The election is here.
District Attorney = vote for Mary Knox.
You can make a difference!
Back to Mexico I go after bail.
“Race unknown”?
Gender unknown too I’m sure.
Mary Knox’s hands will be tied if Gavin is still in office…..
VOTE knucklehead Newsom out!
Damn he is out in 1 day?! This guy must have a good lawyer and cash to post bail.
He probably plead guilty on procession stolen goods ( pc 496) to protect his crew. There is no way the DA can prove that he steal 700k worth of good. If he plead guilty to procession of stolen good, that is 3 years max in the joint. His crew could take care his family while he is in the joint to make business connection.
I’m wondering if the quick release was because he was a storage mule. There was a similar arrest in San Francisco last week where it turned out the person had been hired to store things. He had hundreds of thousands of dollars of stolen stuff. At times, people would come by and pack the stuff into shipping containers to be sent to Mexico or overseas. The local storage mules are cut-outs much like the mules used to transport drugs. If someone gets caught it’s just a cost of doing business. The person caught knows nothing about the operation of the criminal group or gang that was using them.
Hmmm. 715,000 dollars worth of stolen goods.
So why isn’t the FBI doing an investigation? Why weren’t they the ones to kick down his door?
Usually the federal government gets involved when crimes reach a certain monetary figure or there is an organized criminal conspiracy going on.
Did this case just fly over their heads or are they too busy for this type of case?
The reason I asked is because the only way he will do any real time is if the feds indict him on federal charges knowing their conviction rates and lengthy sentencing policies.
Something doesn’t sound right here. The suspect and the goods were located in Pittsburg/Contra Costa County, yet the image of his release is from Solano County. What gives with that?
There is no date or crime committed info on the image either. I’m puzzled. Is this fake news?
Nevermind. Reread the story and see it was a multi-jurisdiction case.
Of course he has been released. He probably claimed he needed those items and shouldn’t be prosecuted.
It was Contra Costa CHP, in Pittsburgh, but he was taken to Solano County?
Not saying I doubt the story, just curious as to why the jurisdictions are all weird like that. Do we know what all the charges were, and where they were filed?
So much for the Flee Market deals.
Check his immigration status.
Enforce the borders.
Dirty Diana at it again.
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