The owner of a fireworks company at the center of a deadly explosion that killed seven people in Esparto was arrested Thursday at Walt Disney World on multiple counts of murder.
Kenneth Kin Chee, 48, was taken into custody by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at the Disney World resort in Bay Lake, Florida, as reported by KCRA 3.
Chee, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, was one of nine people arrested in connection with the blast. He currently faces seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy, and was booked on a fugitive warrant.
The arrests follow a monthslong probe into the explosion at a Yolo County property where authorities say illegal fireworks were being stored. Among those also facing murder charges are Samuel Machado, 45, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, and Jack Y. Lee, 65, the longtime operations manager for Chee’s company.
The disaster began as a localized fire on the afternoon of July 1, 2025, but quickly escalated into a series of violent detonations that could be felt miles away. Footage taken from above the disaster showed explosions of fireworks amid the blaze, with bright sparks and secondary blasts launching into the sky as the fire spread to a massive stockpile of commercial-grade pyrotechnics.
The resulting blaze, which authorities named the Oakdale Fire, leveled several buildings and scorched 80 acres of surrounding land. It took emergency crews nearly five days to fully bring the flames under control.
The explosion killed seven workers, whose remains were recovered over several days from the unstable wreckage. Among the dead were 18-year-old Jesus Ramos, who was on his first day of work, and his 22-year-old brother, Jhony. Other victims included recent high school graduate Angel Voller, 18, along with several fathers. Due to the intensity of the blast, officials had to use DNA testing and dental records to identify the remains.
Samuel Machado and his wife, Tammy Machado, 46, owned the property where the explosion occurred. Both were employees of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office and were placed on leave following the incident.
Samuel Machado is currently being held without bail at the Sutter County Jail on 26 counts, including seven counts of murder, possession of illegal explosives and child cruelty. Tammy Machado was also arrested and has since posted bond.
According to jail records, Jack Lee was booked in Yolo County without bail on 16 charges, including seven counts of murder and several conspiracy charges.
Gary Young Chan Jr., 43, whose name is associated with the federal license for Devastating Pyrotechnics, is being held without bail in Santa Clara County on 15 charges, including seven counts of second-degree murder.
Authorities also arrested 61-year-old Craig Cutright, the owner of Blackstar Fireworks and a volunteer firefighter with the Esparto Fire District. Cutright, who reportedly worked as an employee for Chee, is being held on $500,000 bail on 12 charges related to the illegal possession and distribution of explosives.
Ronald Botelho III, previously arrested in December, faces 13 additional felony charges filed this week, including conspiracy and reckless possession of destructive devices.
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office was expected to announce formal indictments during a press conference Friday morning.
The arrests follow a Yolo County Civil Grand Jury report issued last month, which alleged that county officials ignored the illegal fireworks operation for at least three years. According to the report, a total lack of code enforcement and oversight led directly to the “death and destruction” at the site.
While Devastating Pyrotechnics held certain state and federal permits, the grand jury found it lacked the necessary local land-use permits and business licenses to operate in Yolo County. The site had reportedly grown from a small family operation into a substantial business that supplied fireworks displays throughout California.
Since the explosion, the California State Fire Marshal has revoked the licenses of both companies involved for numerous state law violations. In December, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health also leveled more than $200,000 in fines, citing serious regulatory failures directly linked to the fatal incident.
