Fresno restaurateur Bobby Salazar faces federal mail fraud charges to go along with the arson charges that he has already pleaded not guilty to.

A federal grand jury returned a six-count felony indictment last week, which now includes four counts of mail fraud.

The big picture: Per the indictment, Salazar allegedly received insurance settlement checks through the mail. • Salazar allegedly paid accomplices Thomas Qualls and Shylo Badiali $10,000 to burn down his restaurant in central Fresno. He then went on to collect $980,000 in an insurance payout.

The backstory: Federal prosecutors charged Salazar with arson after he allegedly hired a motorcycle gang member to burn down an underperforming restaurant on April 2, 2024. • Fire investigators found partially burned gas cans located ins

See Full Page