8 people, including 5 facing murder charges, arrested in Esparto explosion

Eight people, including five people facing murder charges, were arrested in connection with the Esparto explosion, authorities said on Friday.

A grand jury indictment unsealed on Friday revealed that Sam Machado, Kenneth Chee, Gary Chan Jr., Jack Lee and Douglar Tollefesen face seven charges of murder.

Ronald Botelho III, Craig Cutwright and the five defendants also face conspiracy charges, according to the indictment. Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Clara Nabity said the indictment alleges a decades-long conspiracy that turned Sam Machado's property "into the Northern California hub for an illegal enterprise that imports and sells illegal explosives on the black market." 

Nabity said it was more than just fireworks, saying they were explosives that were designed and packaged to be sold under private labels. The indictment alleges that Chee branded the fireworks as "Bean Day Ho" fireworks, Tollefesen labeled them as "For the Streets," Batelho labeled them as "Big Bully" and Cutright labeled them as "Double OG."  

The indictment alleges that Chee owned Devastating Pyrotechnics with Lee and Tollefesen, and help from Chan. Cutwright, a volunteer Esparto firefighter,  and Botelho were a part of Devastating Pyrotechnics, but focused on the company called Blackstar Fireworks, beginning in about 2023. 

Both companies operated from Sam Machado's property, a former Yolo County sheriff's lieutenant. Sam Machado's wife, Tammy, was also arrested on charges of mortgage fraud, willfully false return, child endangerment, and animal cruelty. She posted bail on Thursday. Tammy Machado worked as an administrative assistant at the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. 

Nabity said the indictment alleges that Sam Macahdo used his role at the sheriff's office "to shield the conspiracy as it expanded." Nabity added that the operations expanded from 13 storage containers in 2015 to more than 50 in 2025 and a 5,000-square-foot warehouse. 

Over the 10 years, more than 11 million pounds of explosives were imported to the property, the indictment alleges, with about 1 million pounds stored on the Machado property when the explosion happened. 

As for licenses, some of the suspects held licenses that were issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). But Nabity said that none of the storage containers were licensed by ATF and there are no licenses that allow for the storage of explosives near homes and public roads. 

Other charges against some or all of the seven suspects include a dangerous workplace, unlawfully causing a fire, insurance fraud, child endangerment, animal cruelty, and tax fraud.

Machado faces four counts of possession of an assault weapon after they were seized from the property following the explosion, officials said. 

Five of the defendants are scheduled for arraignment on Monday. Two others were arrested out of the area, including Chee in Florida. They will be arraigned after they're brought to Yolo County. 

Previously, in December 2025, Botelho was arrested in Del Norte County in connection with the Esparto explosion investigation.

The arrests come weeks after a Yolo County Grand Jury report determined that numerous top local officials "knew about the fireworks businesses" and "none of them took action." The report found that various officials "were aware of illegal fireworks operations at the site for at least three years prior to the incident."

Last August, nearly two months after the explosion, CBS News Sacramento made a similar discovery through a Public Records Act request. Email exchanges between Yolo County building officials detailed that many people, including the Esparto fire chief, were aware of what was happening on the property.

Also earlier this year, Cal Fire completed its own investigation into the explosion, alleging illegal activities were uncovered.

"We are encouraged to see this case continue to proceed towards justice. We will remain engaged to support the Yolo County District Attorney's office as they bring this case to trial," State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said in a statement on Thursday. "As we approach the 4th of July, I must reiterate our zero tolerance towards illegal fireworks.  

The Esparto explosion claimed the lives of seven people who were working at the Devastating Pyrotechnics facility at the time:

Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton, CA
Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas, CA
Neil Justin Li, 41, of San Francisco, CA
Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento, CA
Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, of San Francisco, CA
Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, of San Pablo, CA
Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo, CA