Bobby Salazar, a well-known San Joaquin Valley restaurant operator whose name is tied to a chain of half a dozen Mexican restaurants in the region and a popular locally sold salsa brand, has been arrested on federal arson charges, authorities said Monday.
Salazar, 63, is accused of hiring the president of the Screamin’ Demons Motorcycle Club to set fire to his vacant restaurant in Fresno on April 2, 2024. Fire investigators said the blaze was intentionally set after finding partially burned gas cans inside the building and extensive damage to the interior.
Court documents allege Salazar denied involvement in the fire and collected at least $980,739 from an insurance claim.
History of Bobby Salazar restaurants
Salazar has been a familiar figure in the Central Valley dining scene for decades, operating restaurants in Fresno, Clovis, and Kingsburg in the San Joaquin Valley. His family-style Mexican restaurants built a loyal following, and his branded salsa and other products are sold in regional grocery stores. Several of his restaurant locations have closed in recent years, including one Fresno location.
The family’s first restaurant, Sal’s Place in the small San Joaquin Valley city of Selma, opened in 1942.
In 1998, Bobby Salazar began selling his original recipe salsa in local supermarkets. The retail salsa is now available in major chain grocery stores, including Costco and Save Mart, and smaller independent markets from Oregon to San Diego.
Bobby Salazar also operates a cocktail bar called Lucy’s Lounge, named after his wife Lucy.
What’s next in the Bobby Salazar case?
Salazar is scheduled to appear in federal court Aug. 27 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe in Fresno. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 20 years for commercial arson, plus a consecutive compulsory 10 years for arson in furtherance of a felony.
The investigation is the result of a multi-agency effort, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Fresno Fire Department, with assistance from the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Brittany M. Gunter are prosecuting the case.
The charges are allegations, and Salazar is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, federal officials said.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: California restauranter accused of hiring biker gang to burn down eatery
Reporting by James Ward, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
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