As part of its year-round commitment to keeping American consumers safe from illegal fireworks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing continued success in its crackdown of illegal sales of fireworks, fireworks components and chemicals.
Undercover investigations spearheaded by CPSC resulted in federal action against three separate individuals, preventing them from selling dangerous fireworks components to consumers in the future.
In one case, Rick Ellis, the owner of Pyroworks, based in Blackwell, Mo., pleaded guilty to six counts of selling chemicals and components used to make illegal fireworks. As part of the plea agreement, Ellis and Pyroworks also entered into a consent decree that permanently bars him and his firm from selling fuels, oxidizers, tubes, end caps, and fuses.
A former associate of Ellis at Pyroworks, Christina Beck, of Arnold, Mo., also pleaded guilty to the same charges and entered into a similar consent decree.
Sentencing for Ellis and Beck is scheduled for later this summer.
In a separate case, the owner of Skylight Company and Tannerite Company has entered into a consent decree. Daniel Tanner, of Pleasant Hill, Ore., has agreed to stop selling the chemicals and components used to make illegal fireworks, such as M-80s and quarter-sticks. The consent decree does not prohibit Mr. Tanner from selling Tannerite Targets.
Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, CPSC prohibits the sale of several dangerous types of fireworks and the components used to make them. Banned fireworks include various large aerial devices, M-80s, quarter-sticks, half-sticks and other large fireworks. The ban covers firecrackers with more than 50 milligrams of explosive powder and any aerial firework that uses more than 130 milligrams of flash powder or other pyrotechnic composition to produce an audible effect, as well as mail order kits and components intended to build these fireworks.
The cases were filed by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Litigation on behalf of CPSC.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our email alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn and Truth Social.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
- Contact a media specialist.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800