Topline: Seven deaths, 11 million pounds of explosives, and a law enforcement lieutenant accused of helping hide the operation are at the center of a sweeping California fireworks conspiracy case that now carries murder charges against five defendants.
Published: April 11, 2026 6:20 am ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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ESPARTO, CA — Eight people have been charged in connection with a massive illegal fireworks operation that authorities say led to a 2025 warehouse explosion in Esparto that killed seven men and sparked a wildfire.
USA Today reported that Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced the charges on April 10, one day after all eight defendants were arrested in a case prosecutors describe as the result of a nearly year-long investigation into a decade-long illegal fireworks and explosives ring.
The July 1, 2025 explosion tore through a warehouse in Esparto, a small Yolo County community about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento. The blast killed seven men and triggered the Oakdale Fire, which burned 78 acres, according to authorities.
The victims were identified through DNA testing by the Yolo County Coroner on July 10, 2025, according to authorities. They were Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, of San Francisco; Neil Justin Li, 41, of San Francisco; Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento; Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas; Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, of San Pablo; Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo; and Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton.
According to authorities, the investigation uncovered what prosecutors called a decade-long conspiracy to build and operate a sprawling illegal fireworks business that imported more than 11 million pounds of explosives over roughly 10 years. By the time of the explosion, investigators say approximately one million pounds of explosives were being stored at the site.
The eight people arrested on April 9 were Gary Chan, 43; Jack Lee, 65; Ronald Botelho; Douglas Tolleson; Samuel Machado, 45; Tammy Machado, 46; Kenneth Chee, 48; and Craig Cutright, 61. Five of them — Chee, Lee, Chan, Tolleson, and Samuel Machado — were charged with second-degree murder, according to authorities.
Prosecutors say Chee led the enterprise. According to the indictment, the operation supplied fireworks to four private companies whose owners were also swept up in the case: Chee’s Devastating Pyrotechnics, Tolleson’s For the Streets Pyro, Botelho’s Big Bully and Bad Dad fireworks, and Cutright’s Blackstar Fireworks.
Samuel Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, is accused of using his position in law enforcement to shield the operation as it expanded, according to authorities. Prosecutors say Machado was storing about 13 containers of explosives on his property in 2015. By 2025, according to the indictment, that footprint had grown to more than 50 containers and a 5,000-square-foot warehouse.
Authorities also allege that none of the storage containers were properly registered with the state of California, even though some of them carried CalFire licenses. That disconnect is now central to the prosecution’s claim that the operation functioned for years outside the law while continuing to grow in scale.
At least five of the defendants were booked into the Yolo County Jail, according to authorities, while two others were arrested outside the county. Several co-conspirators are expected to be arraigned on April 13.
District Attorney Reisig said additional charges could still be filed as the case moves forward, according to authorities.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Eight Charged, Five Facing Murder Counts, in Decade-Long Illegal Fireworks Ring That Killed Seven in 2025 California Explosion
Seven deaths, 11 million pounds of explosives, and a law enforcement lieutenant accused of helping hide the operation are at the center of a sweeping California fireworks conspiracy case that now carries murder charges against five defendants.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 11, 2026 6:20 am ET
AI generated image.
ESPARTO, CA — Eight people have been charged in connection with a massive illegal fireworks operation that authorities say led to a 2025 warehouse explosion in Esparto that killed seven men and sparked a wildfire.
USA Today reported that Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced the charges on April 10, one day after all eight defendants were arrested in a case prosecutors describe as the result of a nearly year-long investigation into a decade-long illegal fireworks and explosives ring.
The July 1, 2025 explosion tore through a warehouse in Esparto, a small Yolo County community about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento. The blast killed seven men and triggered the Oakdale Fire, which burned 78 acres, according to authorities.
The victims were identified through DNA testing by the Yolo County Coroner on July 10, 2025, according to authorities. They were Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, of San Francisco; Neil Justin Li, 41, of San Francisco; Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento; Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas; Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, of San Pablo; Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo; and Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton.
According to authorities, the investigation uncovered what prosecutors called a decade-long conspiracy to build and operate a sprawling illegal fireworks business that imported more than 11 million pounds of explosives over roughly 10 years. By the time of the explosion, investigators say approximately one million pounds of explosives were being stored at the site.
The eight people arrested on April 9 were Gary Chan, 43; Jack Lee, 65; Ronald Botelho; Douglas Tolleson; Samuel Machado, 45; Tammy Machado, 46; Kenneth Chee, 48; and Craig Cutright, 61. Five of them — Chee, Lee, Chan, Tolleson, and Samuel Machado — were charged with second-degree murder, according to authorities.
Prosecutors say Chee led the enterprise. According to the indictment, the operation supplied fireworks to four private companies whose owners were also swept up in the case: Chee’s Devastating Pyrotechnics, Tolleson’s For the Streets Pyro, Botelho’s Big Bully and Bad Dad fireworks, and Cutright’s Blackstar Fireworks.
Samuel Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, is accused of using his position in law enforcement to shield the operation as it expanded, according to authorities. Prosecutors say Machado was storing about 13 containers of explosives on his property in 2015. By 2025, according to the indictment, that footprint had grown to more than 50 containers and a 5,000-square-foot warehouse.
Authorities also allege that none of the storage containers were properly registered with the state of California, even though some of them carried CalFire licenses. That disconnect is now central to the prosecution’s claim that the operation functioned for years outside the law while continuing to grow in scale.
At least five of the defendants were booked into the Yolo County Jail, according to authorities, while two others were arrested outside the county. Several co-conspirators are expected to be arraigned on April 13.
District Attorney Reisig said additional charges could still be filed as the case moves forward, according to authorities.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Eight Charged, Five Facing Murder Counts, in Decade-Long Illegal Fireworks Ring That Killed Seven in 2025 California Explosion
Seven deaths, 11 million pounds of explosives, and a law enforcement lieutenant accused of helping hide the operation are at the center of a sweeping California fireworks conspiracy case that now carries murder charges against five defendants.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 11, 2026 6:20 am ET
AI generated image.
ESPARTO, CA — Eight people have been charged in connection with a massive illegal fireworks operation that authorities say led to a 2025 warehouse explosion in Esparto that killed seven men and sparked a wildfire.
USA Today reported that Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced the charges on April 10, one day after all eight defendants were arrested in a case prosecutors describe as the result of a nearly year-long investigation into a decade-long illegal fireworks and explosives ring.
The July 1, 2025 explosion tore through a warehouse in Esparto, a small Yolo County community about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento. The blast killed seven men and triggered the Oakdale Fire, which burned 78 acres, according to authorities.
The victims were identified through DNA testing by the Yolo County Coroner on July 10, 2025, according to authorities. They were Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, of San Francisco; Neil Justin Li, 41, of San Francisco; Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento; Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas; Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, of San Pablo; Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo; and Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton.
According to authorities, the investigation uncovered what prosecutors called a decade-long conspiracy to build and operate a sprawling illegal fireworks business that imported more than 11 million pounds of explosives over roughly 10 years. By the time of the explosion, investigators say approximately one million pounds of explosives were being stored at the site.
The eight people arrested on April 9 were Gary Chan, 43; Jack Lee, 65; Ronald Botelho; Douglas Tolleson; Samuel Machado, 45; Tammy Machado, 46; Kenneth Chee, 48; and Craig Cutright, 61. Five of them — Chee, Lee, Chan, Tolleson, and Samuel Machado — were charged with second-degree murder, according to authorities.
Prosecutors say Chee led the enterprise. According to the indictment, the operation supplied fireworks to four private companies whose owners were also swept up in the case: Chee’s Devastating Pyrotechnics, Tolleson’s For the Streets Pyro, Botelho’s Big Bully and Bad Dad fireworks, and Cutright’s Blackstar Fireworks.
Samuel Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, is accused of using his position in law enforcement to shield the operation as it expanded, according to authorities. Prosecutors say Machado was storing about 13 containers of explosives on his property in 2015. By 2025, according to the indictment, that footprint had grown to more than 50 containers and a 5,000-square-foot warehouse.
Authorities also allege that none of the storage containers were properly registered with the state of California, even though some of them carried CalFire licenses. That disconnect is now central to the prosecution’s claim that the operation functioned for years outside the law while continuing to grow in scale.
At least five of the defendants were booked into the Yolo County Jail, according to authorities, while two others were arrested outside the county. Several co-conspirators are expected to be arraigned on April 13.
District Attorney Reisig said additional charges could still be filed as the case moves forward, according to authorities.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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