Bobby Salazar, owner of five Mexican restaurants in and near Fresno, California, has been arrested for allegedly hiring a motorcycle gang member to set fire to one of his restaurants in 2024. In addition to the restaurants, called Bobby Salazar's Mexican Food, the company makes salsa sold in grocery stores.
Fire damage from inside Bobby Salazar's Restaurant
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, on April 2, 2024, a fire broke out at the vacant Bobby Salazar’s Restaurant on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was arson, with partially burned gas cans located inside the restaurant and extensive fire damage to the interior.
According to court documents, agents learned that the person who set the fire was the president of the local Screamin’ Demons Motorcycle Club. Salazar allegedly hired the motorcycle gang member to start the fire and then claimed to his insurance company that he had nothing to do with the arson. He received $980,739 for his insurance claim.
Salazar is expected to make an initial court appearance on Aug. 27, 2025. If convicted, Salazar faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for commercial arson, as well as 10 years in prison for arson in furtherance of a felony.
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