What started as a family trip to Walt Disney World ended in handcuffs for a California fireworks kingpin now accused of being at the center of a deadly underground operation that prosecutors say turned into a ticking time bomb.
Authorities say Kenneth Chee was arrested in Florida while vacationing—completely unaware, officials claim, that a massive case was closing in around him tied to a horrifying explosion that killed seven people in Yolo County.
But Chee isn’t the only one in the crosshairs.
In a bombshell announcement, prosecutors revealed a sweeping indictment targeting eight people, including former sheriff’s lieutenant Sam Machado and his wife. Five of the accused—including Chee and Machado—are now staring down seven murder charges each in connection to the catastrophic blast that obliterated a building in Esparto.
Officials say this wasn’t just an accident—it was a disaster waiting to explode.
Prosecutors allege the group ran a shadowy, decade-long operation flooding the black market with illegal explosives—importing a staggering 11 million pounds over the years. At the time of the blast, roughly 1 million pounds were reportedly packed inside the facility, creating what authorities describe as a lethal stockpile primed for catastrophe.
“This goes far beyond fireworks,” Deputy DA Clara Nabity warned, describing the materials as powerful explosives disguised as consumer products.
Even more jaw-dropping are allegations that Machado—once sworn to uphold the law—used his position to shield the operation, turning his own property into a hub for the illegal enterprise while it quietly expanded.
The arrests, carried out across multiple states, followed a year-long investigation led by District Attorney Jeff Reisig—and officials say the net may widen even further.
Now, with multiple defendants behind bars and families mourning the seven lives lost, prosecutors are making it clear this case is just getting started.
“This is about justice,” Reisig said. “And we are not done yet.”
