A former Northern California sheriff lieutenant and the owner of a fireworks company have been arrested and charged with murder following last year’s horrific explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in Yolo county that killed seven people.

Samuel Machado is accused of illegally having 1 million pounds of fireworks on his property at the time of the blast and using his law enforcement position to shield the illicit operation from scrutiny for years,

Almost a year-long investigation into the massive explosion in California, the Yolo County District Attorney announced it charged eight people.

Seven individuals have been indicted on charges of second-degree murder and other crimes related to a deadly explosion in Esparto last summer, which prosecutors say was caused by a long-running illegal fireworks operation.