California fireworks owner arrested at Disney after deadly factory explosion

Authorities say a grand jury indicted eight people and that five were charged with second-degree murder after a July explosion at an illegal fireworks factory that killed seven. Former Yolo County Lt. Sam Machado and company founder Kenneth Chee were arrested, and arraignments for five booked defendants are scheduled Monday.

A series of arrests followed a year-long investigation into an illegal fireworks operation linked to a deadly factory explosion in Yolo County last July. Prosecutors allege the site in rural Esparto housed large quantities of explosive devices that were not lawful fireworks. A grand jury returned indictments in early April, and local authorities have arrested multiple people, including a former Yolo County sheriff lieutenant and the founder of the fireworks company. The investigation remains active and officials say more individuals are under review. Known details: - A grand jury indicted eight people on a range of charges, and authorities said five were charged with second-degree murder related to seven deaths. - Prosecutors allege a decade-long illegal operation that imported large amounts of explosive material and used a former lieutenant's property as a northern California hub. - Officials said the July blast at an illegal fireworks factory in rural Esparto killed seven people and leveled the building. - Arrests named in the indictment include former Yolo County Lt. Sam Machado and the company's founder, Kenneth Chee; Chee was arrested in Florida while at Disney. - Authorities said the site held about one million pounds of fireworks at the time of the explosion, and prosecutors have said the group imported millions of pounds over time. - Machado resigned from the sheriff's department and remains in custody, according to local reports. Summary: The indictments mark a major step in an ongoing criminal case that prosecutors say grew from a long-running illegal explosives enterprise and led to a deadly blast. Arraignments for five defendants who have been booked are scheduled for Monday, and the district attorney said the investigation is continuing.