A Fresno restaurant owner has been charged with hiring a motorcycle gang member to set fire to his underperforming restaurant, according to authorities.

Robert “Bobby” Salazar, 63, was charged with arson of commercial property and arson in furtherance of a felony, U.S. Atty. Eric Grant announced in a news release .

Salazar owned a chain of restaurants in Fresno called Bobby Salazar’s Taqueria and Bobby Salazar’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, according to court documents. On Jan. 31, 2024, Salazar terminated the lease for the Blackstone Avenue location because he wanted to change the name of the restaurant and was told his lease agreement wouldn’t allow it. He then used the facility to store restaurant equipment and closed the restaurant to the public.

After the restaurant closed, Sala

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