49,000 pounds of illegal fireworks seized in massive bust

SACRAMENTO » Nearly 25 tons of illegal fireworks were confiscated during the past two weeks in various locations throughout Northern California, including Oakland and Walnut Creek, one of the largest seizures in state history

The bust included the arrest of seven people who were booked into Calaveras County jail on a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges, Cal Fire said. Those arrested were identified as Larry Lista of Salida, Jack Schroll of Walnut Creek, Tanya Schroll of Walnut Creek, Michael Solorio of Modesto, Donald Cerasi of Copperopolis, Maria San of Salida and Leon Cerasi of Salida.

“Law enforcement officers officers have reason to believe that these suspects have been illegally importing, transporting, storing, distributing and ultimately selling these products of dangerous fireworks throughout California, with indications this practice has gone on for at least 30 years” Cal Fire Staff Chief Shane Cunningham said Thursday.

The arrests followed a three- year investigation sparked by an anonymous tip and resulted in the the seizure of more than 49,000 pounds of fireworks stored at locations in Copperopolis, Modesto, Salida, Hayward, Walnut Creek and Oakland.

The seized fireworks came from Montana and Nevada, where they are legal, Cal Fire said.

“The fireworks are aerial fireworks, for the most part, shells that shoot into the air, similar to what you’d see at a public display,” Cunningham said.

Law enforcement officials also seized $115,000 as well as a variety of computers, cell phones, firearms and personal items.

As part of the press release, Cal Fire stressed the dangers of illegal fireworks with Independence Day a few weeks away. Cal Fire reports that on average each year, fireworks in California start 18,500 f ires, including 1,300 structure fires and 300 vehicle fires. The fires, on av- erage, cause three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and $43 million in direct property damage, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said it was assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Highway Patrol, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office as they served ten search warrants in Calaveras, Stanislaus, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties.