Three people faced possible felony charges today in connection with the seizure of more than a half-ton of illegal fireworks at a Boyle Heights residence, a fire official said.
Armando Belman, Francisco Chavez and Lai Ching were arrested Thursday by members of the San Gabriel Valley Arson Explosives Task Force, said Assistant Chief John Kabala of the Alhambra Fire Department.
"The investigation originated as a result of Alhambra Fire Department arson investigators researching Craigslist for individuals selling illegal/dangerous fireworks and unlawful explosives," Kabala said in a statement.
"During the (investigation), an individual selling the illegal product began corresponding with the investigator, and arrangements were made to exchange the illegal product for money at a location in Alhambra," Kabala said.
About 9 a.m. Thursday, detectives met with a man and woman in the parking lot of a business at Fremont Avenue and Mission Road and arrested them when they found about 100 pounds of illegal fireworks in the trunk of a car, Kabala said.
Investigators then served search warrants at locations in South Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights, Kabala said.
At a Boyle Heights house, investigators found a "large cache of illegal/dangerous fireworks stored throughout the single-family dwelling, directly across the street from a middle school and high school," Kabala said.
He said more than a thousand pounds of illegal fireworks were found at the home.
Authorities also seized a firearm, he said.
