Key Points
- Six people were charged in connection with two fatal explosions at illegal cannabis extraction sites in Irwindale and South El Monte
- Ted Chien and Han Quan Jiao face the most serious charges, including multiple counts of murder and drug manufacturing
- The 2023 and 2024 blasts killed five workers and uncovered a large-scale illicit operation producing concentrated cannabis
A deadly drug operation masked as a cannabis business has led to murder charges after two separate explosions in Los Angeles County killed five workers, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Six individuals, including alleged ringleaders Ted Chien of Temple City and Han Quan Jiao of Rosemead, were charged following a multi-agency probe dubbed “Operation Sugar Diamond.” The investigation targeted illegal cannabis extraction sites that authorities say were part of a high-risk operation ignoring safety protocols and legal regulations.
Chien, 52, faces five counts of murder, including special circumstance allegations for multiple killings, two arson charges, and eight felony counts related to drug manufacturing. If convicted, he could face life without parole or the death penalty.
Jiao, 55, is charged with one count of murder and similar drug and arson offenses. He faces a potential life sentence if found guilty.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Chien and Jiao ran illegal honey oil extraction labs that exploded in 2023 and 2024. The first incident occurred on October 9, 2023, at a warehouse on Arrow Highway in Irwindale, where four workers—Yi Luo, Xin Chen, Guangqi Fu, and Quizhuo Liang—were killed in a massive explosion. The second incident happened on November 18, 2024, in South El Monte, where another employee, Bordin “Tony” Sikarin, died in a fire.
Prosecutors say the operation continued even after the fatalities, with Chien and Jiao maintaining production and distribution of concentrated cannabis throughout Los Angeles County.
Four other men—Xiaolong Deng, Chengyan Xu, Christopher Reyes, and Frank Herrera—were charged with conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. Xu faces additional counts of production, while Herrera allegedly transported the illegal product. If convicted, the four face sentences ranging from seven to nearly nine years.
All six defendants are scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Department 30 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles.
