On July 1st, 2025, a warehouse in rural Yolo County became a grave. Seven men—fathers, brothers, sons, and two teenagers barely old enough to vote—died when over one million pounds of illegal explosives ignited at what prosecutors now describe as a decade-long criminal conspiracy operating in plain sight.
One year later, the legal machinery grinds forward. Today, seven of the eight defendants arrested in connection with the Esparto fireworks explosion are due in court. Most face serious charges, including five people—Kenneth Chee, Samuel Machado, Jack Lee, Gary Chan Jr., and Douglas Michael Tollefsen—charged with seven counts of second-degree murder. Tammy Machado, the co-owner of the property and wife of Samuel Machado, faces separate charges of mortgage fraud but is not expected in court today.
The names tied to the disaster read like a small-town scandal. Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, registered his operation in 2013 but had been rejected by the federal ATF for a license due to prior convictions. That’s where Jack Lee entered the picture—he obtained an ATF license in 2011, and later transferred it to Gary Chan Jr., effectively allowing the illegal operation to masquerade as legitimate. Douglas Michael Tollefsen managed the day-to-day import operations. And Samuel Machado, a Yolo County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant at the time of the explosion, leased storage space on his farm property while lying to county officials about what the buildings would be used for. His wife, Tammy Machado, also worked for the sheriff’s office in the legal department.
But here’s where the story gets darker: investigators say the county knew about this for years and did nothing. A civil grand jury report released earlier this year, titled Officials Knew, None Acted, alleged that as early as 2022, county workers received tips about the fireworks business. When they followed up, the Esparto fire chief confirmed that safe-and-sane fireworks—and far more dangerous materials—were stored on the property. Despite knowing the operation had no local permits and that fireworks businesses are illegal in Yolo County, enforcement stopped cold. Yolo County has rejected the grand jury’s conclusions, arguing that code enforcement alone wouldn’t have shut down such a large criminal enterprise. That’s a debate that may resonate through courtrooms and town halls for years.
The human cost transcends legal proceedings. Joel Melendez Jr., 28, was one of the seven killed. He left behind a wife, Maria, and two sons—one born nearly five months after his death. Jeremiah Luciano Melendez, now approaching one year old, never met his father. Another victim, 18-year-old Jesus Manasse Ramos, was working his first day on the job when the explosions killed him and his 22-year-old brother, Johnny Ernesto Ramos. Angel Matthew Waller, also 18, was a star pitcher for Stockton’s Venture Academy. Christopher Bowcock, 45, left behind children and a passion for music; he performed as a rapper under the name Oops. Carlos Rodriguez Mora, 41, was working extra hours during the busy fireworks season to provide for his family. Neil Justin Lee, 41, served as general manager.
Their families gather today in Esparto for a vigil from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Esparto Dollar General. They’re still seeking answers about how an operation storing 11 million pounds of explosives over a decade remained operational, expanded from 13 containers to over 50, and escaped serious intervention even after officials knew what was happening. The court appearance today is procedural—a step in a longer journey toward accountability. But for people like Maria Melendez, it’s also a reminder that one year later, she’s still fighting for her family while raising two boys who will grow up knowing their father only through memory and vigils.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
