Fresno restaurateur Bobby Salazar was arrested by the federal government on an arson charge.

Salazar allegedly hired a gang member to set fire to an underperforming restaurant, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

The big picture: The arrest stems from a fire at Salazar’s restaurant on Blackstone Ave. in Fresno that took place on April 2, 2024. • Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was arson and found partially burned gas cans located inside the restaurant. • Law enforcement learned that the person who set the fire was the president of the local Screamin’ Demons Motorcycle Club. • The government claims that Salazar hired the motorcycle gang member to start the fire. He then claimed to his insurance company that he had nothing to do with the arson a

See Full Page