Seven people, including a Yolo County sheriff’s lieutenant,were arrested in connection with deadly Esparto fireworks explosion that killed Stockton teen
Seven people, including a Yolo County sheriff’s lieutenant and his wife, were arrested Thursday in connection with a massive explosion at an illegal fireworks facility in rural Yolo County that killed seven people, including an 18-year-old Stockton high school baseball standout, last July.
Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton, was among those killed in the July 1, 2025, blast at a warehouse operated by Devastating Pyrotechnics on a farm near Esparto. Voller had recently graduated from Venture Academy in Stockton and was a pitcher on the school’s championship varsity baseball team.
Venture Academy remembered Voller as “a fierce competitor and the most loyal friend and teammate you could ever ask for. A very humble and respectful young man, Angel contributed greatly to the success of our program in all four of his high school years.”
The other victims were identified as Neil Justin Li, 41, and Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, both of San Francisco; Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, and Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, both of San Pablo; Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas; and Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento.
The explosion occurred after a fire broke out at the warehouse, igniting a large stockpile of fireworks and triggering a series of massive blasts that leveled buildings and sparked a 78-acre wildfire in the agricultural area about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento.
On Friday, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office announced arrests and charges stemming from a grand jury indictment. Facing seven counts of murder are Samuel Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office; Kenneth Kin Chee; Gary Chan Jr.; Jack Lee; and Douglas Michael Tollefsen. They are also charged with conspiracy to possess explosive devices, possession of explosives and transportation of explosives.
Two additional men, Craig Allen Cutright and Ronald John Botelho III, face conspiracy and related explosives charges.
The illegal fireworks businesses — operating under names including Devastating Pyrotechnics, Devastating Pyro Displays and BlackStar Fireworks — were run on property owned by Samuel Machado and his wife, Tammy Machado, who also worked for the sheriff’s office.
In a separate filing, Tammy Machado faces charges of mortgage fraud, filing false tax returns, animal cruelty and child endangerment. Samuel Machado faces additional charges of child endangerment, animal cruelty, tax fraud and illegal possession of assault weapons.
Last month, a civil grand jury issued a scathing report that found the illegal operation had run for years with the knowledge of numerous county employees and officials, who allegedly fostered a culture of permissiveness.
“Although numerous local officials, including sheriff’s deputies, fire officials, officials in the county building, code enforcement, planning and County Counsel’s office, all knew about the fireworks businesses, none of them took any action,” the report stated.
The grand jury suggested county officials may have been reluctant to enforce regulations on property owned by sheriff’s department employees.
Yolo County Sheriff Tom Lopez said the Machados have resigned from their positions with the department. They were placed on administrative leave after the explosion.
Bay City News reports contributed to the story.