Read the full article on KETV 7
Officials in California indicted eight people on Friday in connection with a 2025 tragedy in connection with a deadly fireworks explosion.The facility, which was found to have been storing illegal fireworks in rural Yolo County, California, caught fire and exploded, killing seven people on July 1, 2025.Investigators for months have been piecing together information about the facility, leading to two fireworks companies having their licenses revoked and the eventual arrests announced Thursday.Among the eight indicted, at least four of them face murder charges. Those arrested include: Kenneth Kin CheeSamuel Machado Tammy Machado Jack Y. LeeGary Young Chan Jr. Craig Cutright Ronald Botelho IIIKCRA was working to get more information about the eighth person who was indicted on Friday.Kenneth Chee, 48, is the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, whose illegal fireworks were being stored at the site of the deadly July 1 explosion that killed seven people. Chee was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 351 Studio Drive in Bay Lake, Florida, according to jail records. That is the address of Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Chee is facing multiple charges, including seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy. Jail records also indicate he was arrested on a fugitive warrant. A full list of his charges was not immediately available. Samuel Machado and his wife, Tammy, owned the property in Yolo County, California.Both worked at the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office; Samuel, 45, as a lieutenant and Tammy, 46, as a non-sworn administrative employee. They were put on leave after the incident. County records show Samuel Machado was arrested Thursday morning and transferred to Sutter County Jail. Samuel Machado is facing the most charges, including seven counts of murder. Samuel Machado is being held at Sutter County Jail without bail. Tammy Machado was also arrested and records show she posted bond. Her charges were not immediately available.Jack Lee, 65, was arrested and booked in Yolo County without bail, jail records show. Lee, the longtime operations manager for Devastating Pyrotechnics, is also facing seven counts of murder. Gary Chan Jr., 43, is in custody in the Santa Clara County Jail and is also facing seven charges of murder. The federal license associated with Devastating Pyrotechnics is under the name of Gary Chan Jr. Chan Jr. is being held without bail. Craig Cutright, 61, the owner of Blackstar Fireworks, which operated at the Esparto property owned by the Machados, was also among those arrested. He was booked in Yolo County. Cutright is being held on a $500,000 bail. Cutright, a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire District, was also listed as an employee of Devastating Pyrotechnics.Ronald Botelho III was previously arrested in Crescent City on Dec. 12 during a probe into the explosion. On Thursday, 13 additional charges were added to his jail records in Del Norte County. The Yolo County district attorney is expected to announce the indictments for those arrested Friday. What we know so far about chargesSister station KCRA called the Monroe Detention Facility in Yolo County on Thursday and an employee read off the list of charges for Samuel Machado, Craig Cutright and Jack Lee. Samuel Machado is facing 26 in total: 7 counts of murder (First or second degree not specified) 2 counts of conspiracy to commit crimes2 counts of possession of explosive illegally 1 count of conspiracy to commit crimes1 count of conspiracy to commit crimes1 count of making a destructive device without permit1 count of possession of a destructive device that’s prohibited1 count of possession of an explosive in a public place1 count of causing fire of structure or forestland1 count of willful cruelty to a child1 count of cruelty to animals 4 counts of possession of an assault weapon2 counts of making false ret. with perjury declaration1 additional unspecified countKCRA also reported Craig Cutright is facing 12 charges:4 counts of conspiracy to commit crimes2 counts of possession of explosive illegally1 count of making a destructive device without a permit1 count of possession of a destructive device that’s prohibited1 count of possession of explosives in a public place2 counts of giving explosives to a person without a permit1 additional unspecified countJack Lee is facing 16 charges: 7 counts of murder (First or second degree not specified)3 counts of conspiracy to commit a crime1 count of making a destructive device without a permit1 count of possession of a destructive device that’s prohibited1 count of possession of an explosive device in a public place1 count of causing of a fire of a structure1 additional unspecified count KCRA reached out to Santa Clara County Jail for information on Gary Chan Jr.’s arrest. Gary Chan Jr. is facing 15 charges: 7 counts of second degree murder2 counts of conspiracy to commit a crime2 counts of possession of illegal explosive2 counts of explosive device on a carrier 1 count of possession of an explosive in a public building1 count of causing of a fire in a structureRonald Botelho III is facing 13 additional charges:4 felony counts of possessing explosive illegally 3 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime 2 felony counts of making a destructive device without a permit1 felony count of reckless possession of explosive/device on public street/highway1 felony count of carrying an explosive/device on common carrier1 felony count of possession of a destructive device1 misdemeanor count of giving an explosive to a person without a permitIn December Botelho was charged with reckless possession of explosives near or in a residential area, possession of materials with intent to make any destructive device and child endangerment.The sheriff’s office also said Botelho III faces additional charges of making, transporting or possessing explosives; keeping a firearm within reach of a child; illegal possession of an assault rifle and possession of more than 100 pounds of illegal fireworks. KCRA has reached out to the attorney representing Devastating Pyrotechnics and has yet to hear back.The Yolo County Civil Grand Jury released a report last month that alleged top Yolo County officials were aware of illegal fireworks operations at the Esparto explosion site for at least three years but “no code enforcement occurred” and the lack of oversight directly led to “death and destruction.”The report said the goal of the investigation was to understand the failure of the county’s code enforcement process.Those who died were employees of Devastating Pyrotechnics, which operated from the property. Other investigations have also been underway. Cal Fire’s state fire marshal said in February that it found signs of criminal activity and turned its findings over to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.Since the explosions, the state marshal’s office revoked the pyrotechnics licenses for the two companies that operated at the Esparto site, determining that they had violated state fireworks laws and regulations.In December, CAL/OSHA issued more than $200,000 in fines through 15 citations, three of which were noted to have been serious regulatory violations that the agency said were directly related to the deadly explosions.Grand jury detailed how fireworks storage took hold at the Machados’ property The grand jury report notes that the Esparto explosion site had once belonged to a farmer, Jerry Matsumura, who used to put on fireworks displays.But activity at the property evolved after his 2015 death into a “substantial business” called Devastating Pyrotechnics that went on to provide fireworks for shows across the state.The report notes that Matsumura’s two daughters, Rieko Matsumura and Tammy Machado, took over the property and worked at the sheriff’s office along with Samuel Machado.Over the years, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, Kenneth Chee, expanded his business at the Machados’ property and brought on additional containers to hold explosives, the report said.While Devastating Fireworks obtained federal and state permits, it did not have a local use permit or business license, the report notes. And ordinances prohibited fireworks businesses anywhere in the county.KCRA 3 Investigates previously reported that Yolo County officials were aware of red flags at the Esparto site after we obtained emails from a public records request.
Officials in California indicted eight people on Friday in connection with a 2025 tragedy in connection with a deadly fireworks explosion.
The facility, which was found to have been storing illegal fireworks in rural Yolo County, California, caught fire and exploded, killing seven people on July 1, 2025.
Advertisement
Investigators for months have been piecing together information about the facility, leading to two fireworks companies having their licenses revoked and the eventual arrests announced Thursday.
Among the eight indicted, at least four of them face murder charges.
Those arrested include:
- Kenneth Kin Chee
- Samuel Machado
- Tammy Machado
- Jack Y. Lee
- Gary Young Chan Jr.
- Craig Cutright
- Ronald Botelho III
KCRA was working to get more information about the eighth person who was indicted on Friday.
Kenneth Chee, 48, is the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, whose illegal fireworks were being stored at the site of the deadly July 1 explosion that killed seven people.
Chee was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 351 Studio Drive in Bay Lake, Florida, according to jail records. That is the address of Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park.
Chee is facing multiple charges, including seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy. Jail records also indicate he was arrested on a fugitive warrant. A full list of his charges was not immediately available.
Samuel Machado and his wife, Tammy, owned the property in Yolo County, California.
Both worked at the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office; Samuel, 45, as a lieutenant and Tammy, 46, as a non-sworn administrative employee. They were put on leave after the incident.
County records show Samuel Machado was arrested Thursday morning and transferred to Sutter County Jail. Samuel Machado is facing the most charges, including seven counts of murder. Samuel Machado is being held at Sutter County Jail without bail.
Tammy Machado was also arrested and records show she posted bond. Her charges were not immediately available.
Jack Lee, 65, was arrested and booked in Yolo County without bail, jail records show. Lee, the longtime operations manager for Devastating Pyrotechnics, is also facing seven counts of murder.
Gary Chan Jr., 43, is in custody in the Santa Clara County Jail and is also facing seven charges of murder. The federal license associated with Devastating Pyrotechnics is under the name of Gary Chan Jr. Chan Jr. is being held without bail.
Craig Cutright, 61, the owner of Blackstar Fireworks, which operated at the Esparto property owned by the Machados, was also among those arrested. He was booked in Yolo County. Cutright is being held on a $500,000 bail.
Cutright, a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire District, was also listed as an employee of Devastating Pyrotechnics.
Ronald Botelho III was previously arrested in Crescent City on Dec. 12 during a probe into the explosion. On Thursday, 13 additional charges were added to his jail records in Del Norte County.
The Yolo County district attorney is expected to announce the indictments for those arrested Friday.
What we know so far about charges
Sister station KCRA called the Monroe Detention Facility in Yolo County on Thursday and an employee read off the list of charges for Samuel Machado, Craig Cutright and Jack Lee.
Samuel Machado is facing 26 in total:
- 7 counts of murder (First or second degree not specified)
- 2 counts of conspiracy to commit crimes
- 2 counts of possession of explosive illegally
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit crimes
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit crimes
- 1 count of making a destructive device without permit
- 1 count of possession of a destructive device that’s prohibited
- 1 count of possession of an explosive in a public place
- 1 count of causing fire of structure or forestland
- 1 count of willful cruelty to a child
- 1 count of cruelty to animals
- 4 counts of possession of an assault weapon
- 2 counts of making false ret. with perjury declaration
- 1 additional unspecified count
KCRA also reported Craig Cutright is facing 12 charges:
- 4 counts of conspiracy to commit crimes
- 2 counts of possession of explosive illegally
- 1 count of making a destructive device without a permit
- 1 count of possession of a destructive device that’s prohibited
- 1 count of possession of explosives in a public place
- 2 counts of giving explosives to a person without a permit
- 1 additional unspecified count
Jack Lee is facing 16 charges:
- 7 counts of murder (First or second degree not specified)
- 3 counts of conspiracy to commit a crime
- 1 count of making a destructive device without a permit
- 1 count of possession of a destructive device that’s prohibited
- 1 count of possession of an explosive device in a public place
- 1 count of causing of a fire of a structure
- 1 additional unspecified count
KCRA reached out to Santa Clara County Jail for information on Gary Chan Jr.’s arrest.
Gary Chan Jr. is facing 15 charges:
- 7 counts of second degree murder
- 2 counts of conspiracy to commit a crime
- 2 counts of possession of illegal explosive
- 2 counts of explosive device on a carrier
- 1 count of possession of an explosive in a public building
- 1 count of causing of a fire in a structure
Ronald Botelho III is facing 13 additional charges:
- 4 felony counts of possessing explosive illegally
- 3 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime
- 2 felony counts of making a destructive device without a permit
- 1 felony count of reckless possession of explosive/device on public street/highway
- 1 felony count of carrying an explosive/device on common carrier
- 1 felony count of possession of a destructive device
- 1 misdemeanor count of giving an explosive to a person without a permit
In December Botelho was charged with reckless possession of explosives near or in a residential area, possession of materials with intent to make any destructive device and child endangerment.
The sheriff’s office also said Botelho III faces additional charges of making, transporting or possessing explosives; keeping a firearm within reach of a child; illegal possession of an assault rifle and possession of more than 100 pounds of illegal fireworks.
KCRA has reached out to the attorney representing Devastating Pyrotechnics and has yet to hear back.
The Yolo County Civil Grand Jury released a report last month that alleged top Yolo County officials were aware of illegal fireworks operations at the Esparto explosion site for at least three years but “no code enforcement occurred” and the lack of oversight directly led to “death and destruction.”
The report said the goal of the investigation was to understand the failure of the county’s code enforcement process.
Those who died were employees of Devastating Pyrotechnics, which operated from the property.
Other investigations have also been underway. Cal Fire’s state fire marshal said in February that it found signs of criminal activity and turned its findings over to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.
Since the explosions, the state marshal’s office revoked the pyrotechnics licenses for the two companies that operated at the Esparto site, determining that they had violated state fireworks laws and regulations.
In December, CAL/OSHA issued more than $200,000 in fines through 15 citations, three of which were noted to have been serious regulatory violations that the agency said were directly related to the deadly explosions.
Grand jury detailed how fireworks storage took hold at the Machados’ property
The grand jury report notes that the Esparto explosion site had once belonged to a farmer, Jerry Matsumura, who used to put on fireworks displays.
But activity at the property evolved after his 2015 death into a “substantial business” called Devastating Pyrotechnics that went on to provide fireworks for shows across the state.
The report notes that Matsumura’s two daughters, Rieko Matsumura and Tammy Machado, took over the property and worked at the sheriff’s office along with Samuel Machado.
Over the years, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, Kenneth Chee, expanded his business at the Machados’ property and brought on additional containers to hold explosives, the report said.
While Devastating Fireworks obtained federal and state permits, it did not have a local use permit or business license, the report notes. And ordinances prohibited fireworks businesses anywhere in the county.
KCRA 3 Investigates previously reported that Yolo County officials were aware of red flags at the Esparto site after we obtained emails from a public records request.
