Samuel Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff's Office, faces 26 charges, including seven counts of murder, possession of illegal explosives, and child cruelty, according to multiple reports. He is being held without bail at Sutter County Jail, a major media outlet reported. Additional arrests include Kenneth Kin Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, who was arrested at Walt Disney World in Florida on multiple counts of murder, including seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy, according to major media.
Jack Y. Lee, operations manager for Devastating Pyrotechnics, faces murder charges and was booked in Yolo County without bail on 16 charges, including seven counts of murder, major media reported. , associated with the federal license for Devastating Pyrotechnics, is being held without bail on 15 charges, including seven counts of second-degree murder, and Craig Cutright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks and a volunteer firefighter, was arrested and is being held on $500,000 bail on 12 charges, according to major media.
At least seven people face charges for their role in the storage and handling of the fireworks, major media reported. The victims were employees of Devastating Pyrotechnics, according to major media, and were identified as Jesús Ramos (18), Jhony Ramos (22), Joel “Junior” Melendez (28), Carlos Rodriguez-Mora (43), Angel Mathew Voller (18), Christopher Bocog (45), and Neil Li (41). The explosion injured two people and sparked a massive fire that scorched 80 acres of land, major media reported.
It caused the Oakdale Fire, which took nearly five days to control, and officials used DNA testing and dental records to identify the remains due to the intensity of the blast, according to major media. Illegal fireworks were being stored at the property where the explosion occurred, multiple reports indicate. Prosecutors allege that Samuel Machado allowed more than 1 million pounds of illegal fireworks to be stored in the warehouse and used his position in the sheriff's department to avoid accountability for the illegal fireworks operation, according to major media.
The warehouse grew from 13 firework storage containers in 2015 to 50 in 2025, major media reported. Samuel and Tammy Machado owned the property where the explosion occurred and were employees of the Yolo County Sheriff's Office, placed on leave after the incident, according to major media. Tammy Machado was arrested and has posted bond, facing multiple charges including mortgage fraud and child endangerment, multiple reports indicate.
Clara Nabity, Yolo County Deputy District Attorney, stated at a press conference that Samuel Machado used his role as a trusted lieutenant to help shield the conspiracy as it expanded, and that the devices involved had more explosive power than the law allows, according to major media. The investigation continues, with authorities not yet disclosing what specific evidence led to the murder charges against each defendant or how the illegal fireworks were obtained and distributed.