Three people tied to last year’s deadly fireworks explosions in Esparto have been arrested, according to jail records.Those arrested included Samuel Machado and his wife Tammy, who owned the property in Yolo County where illegal fireworks were being stored and where the July 1 explosions killed seven people. Both worked at the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office; Samuel, 45, as a lieutenant and Tammy, 46, as a non-sworn administrative employee. They were put on leave after the incident. Sutter County jail logs show Samuel Machado was arrested Thursday afternoon. Tammy Machado was also arrested and records show she posted bond.Craig Cutright, 61, the owner of a fireworks company that operated at the Esparto property owned by the Machados, was also among those arrested. He was booked in Yolo County.Cutright, a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire District, is the owner of Blackstar Fireworks. He was also listed as an employee of Devastating Fireworks. Details on the charges were not immediately available. KCRA 3 has reached out to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, the district attorney and the attorney representing Devastating Pyrotechnics. The Yolo County DA’s Office said it will hold a press conference on Friday morning to announce indictments. The Yolo County Civil Grand Jury released a report last month that alleged top Yolo County officials were aware of illegal fireworks operations at the Esparto explosion site for at least three years but “no code enforcement occurred†and the lack of oversight directly led to “death and destruction.”The report said the goal of the investigation was to understand the failure of the county’s code enforcement process.Those who died were employees of Devastating Pyrotechnics, which operated from the property. Other investigations have also been underway. Cal Fire’s state fire marshal said in February that it found signs of criminal activity and turned its findings over to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.Since the explosions, the state marshal’s office revoked the pyrotechnics licenses for the two companies that operated at the Esparto site, determining that they had violated state fireworks laws and regulations.In December, CAL/OSHA issued more than $200,000 in fines through 15 citations, three of which were noted to have been serious regulatory violations that the agency said were directly related to the deadly explosions.Grand jury detailed how fireworks storage took hold at the Machados’ property The grand jury report notes that the Esparto explosion site had once belonged to a farmer, Jerry Matsumura, who used to put on fireworks displays.But activity at the property evolved after his 2015 death into a “substantial business†called Devastating Pyrotechnics that went on to provide fireworks for shows across the state.The report notes that Matsumura’s two daughters, Rieko Matsumura and Tammy Machado, took over the property and worked at the sheriff’s office along with Samuel Machado.Over the years, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, Kenneth Chee, expanded his business at the Machados’ property and brought on additional containers to hold explosives, the report said.While Devastating Fireworks obtained federal and state permits, it did not have a local use permit or business license, the report notes. And ordinances prohibited fireworks businesses anywhere in the county.KCRA 3 Investigates previously reported that Yolo County officials were aware of red flags at the Esparto site after we obtained emails from a public records request.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Three people tied to last year’s deadly fireworks explosions in Esparto have been arrested, according to jail records.
Those arrested included Samuel Machado and his wife Tammy, who owned the property in Yolo County where illegal fireworks were being stored and where the July 1 explosions killed seven people.
Both worked at the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office; Samuel, 45, as a lieutenant and Tammy, 46, as a non-sworn administrative employee. They were put on leave after the incident.
Sutter County jail logs show Samuel Machado was arrested Thursday afternoon. Tammy Machado was also arrested and records show she posted bond.
Craig Cutright, 61, the owner of a fireworks company that operated at the Esparto property owned by the Machados, was also among those arrested. He was booked in Yolo County.
Cutright, a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire District, is the owner of Blackstar Fireworks. He was also listed as an employee of Devastating Fireworks.
Details on the charges were not immediately available. KCRA 3 has reached out to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, the district attorney and the attorney representing Devastating Pyrotechnics.
The Yolo County DA’s Office said it will hold a press conference on Friday morning to announce indictments.
The Yolo County Civil Grand Jury released a report last month that alleged top Yolo County officials were aware of illegal fireworks operations at the Esparto explosion site for at least three years but “no code enforcement occurred†and the lack of oversight directly led to “death and destruction.”
The report said the goal of the investigation was to understand the failure of the county’s code enforcement process.
Those who died were employees of Devastating Pyrotechnics, which operated from the property.
Other investigations have also been underway. Cal Fire’s state fire marshal said in February that it found signs of criminal activity and turned its findings over to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.
Since the explosions, the state marshal’s office revoked the pyrotechnics licenses for the two companies that operated at the Esparto site, determining that they had violated state fireworks laws and regulations.
In December, CAL/OSHA issued more than $200,000 in fines through 15 citations, three of which were noted to have been serious regulatory violations that the agency said were directly related to the deadly explosions.
Grand jury detailed how fireworks storage took hold at the Machados’ property
The grand jury report notes that the Esparto explosion site had once belonged to a farmer, Jerry Matsumura, who used to put on fireworks displays.
But activity at the property evolved after his 2015 death into a “substantial business†called Devastating Pyrotechnics that went on to provide fireworks for shows across the state.
The report notes that Matsumura’s two daughters, Rieko Matsumura and Tammy Machado, took over the property and worked at the sheriff’s office along with Samuel Machado.
Over the years, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, Kenneth Chee, expanded his business at the Machados’ property and brought on additional containers to hold explosives, the report said.
While Devastating Fireworks obtained federal and state permits, it did not have a local use permit or business license, the report notes. And ordinances prohibited fireworks businesses anywhere in the county.
KCRA 3 Investigates previously reported that Yolo County officials were aware of red flags at the Esparto site after we obtained emails from a public records request.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
