Fresno restaurant owner Bobby Salazar now faces federal mail fraud charges in addition to two counts of arson for a 2024 fire that destroyed one of his Fresno restaurants.

A federal grand jury returned a six-count felony indictment Oct. 23. The charges include two counts of arson that Salazar previously faced in court and four new counts of mail fraud.

The mail fraud counts stems from receiving insurance settlement checks through the mail.

Salazar pleaded not guilty to the arson charges in prior court appearances.

The indictment also includes the names of Salazar’s alleged accomplices — Thomas Qualls, a leader of a Sanger motorcycle gang, and Shylo Badiali.

Prosecutors allege Salazar paid Qualls and Badiali $10,000 to torch his Bobby Salazar’s restaurant on Blackstone Avenue in central Fresno.

Salazar then collected more than $900,000 in an insurance settlement proceeds, court records said.

Attorneys for Salazar did not respond to a request for comment.

Next Hearing Nov. 17

Salazar appeared in court after his Aug. 26 arrest on a criminal complaint — the initial charge that allows law enforcement to obtain arrest warrants or detain a suspect. It is usually followed by a formal grand jury indictment.

Because of the indictments, a preliminary hearing on the arson charges and a separate gun charge scheduled for today  was rescheduled for Nov. 17 at the Coyle U.S. Courthouse in downtown Fresno. The defendants are expected to formally enter pleas on the six charges.

The gun charge — possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number — was added after a search of Salazar’s home during the arson investigation.

What Indictment Documents Said

The indictment documents refreshed some facts already entered into the record —  Salazar resumed possession of the restaurant in January 2024 on Blackstone Avenue that previously was leased by a franchisee.

Salazar used the already-closed restaurant as a storage facility. New information revealed that Salazar took a $500,000 loan from an unnamed company in February 2024. The restaurant served as part of the collateral.

Instead of using the loan to make improvements to the restaurant, he spent the money on a Bay Area condominium and taxes, the indictment alleges.

Salazar allegedly schemed with Qualls and Badiali to commit the arson on April 2, 2024 — details first laid out in the previous criminal complaint. The new indictment does not indicate whether prosecutors believe Salazar paid his accomplices $10,000 each or in total.

Prosecutors said Salazar made a fraudulent claim with his insurance company. Salazar claimed he did not cause or was involved with the fire, statements prosecutors said were false.

The insurance money went to pay back the loan, taxes and the condominium, the indictment said.

Four insurance settlement checks mailed to Salazar’s attorney in January and February 2025 constituted mail fraud, the indictment alleges.

The mail fraud counts carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The defendants also face five to 20 years for the commercial arson charges, plus 10 years for a second count of arson committed in furtherance of a felony.

The gun charge against Salazar could bring five years in prison.

Salazar remains free after posting a $1 million bond. Qualls is being held in the Fresno County Jail, records show. Badiali does not appear in jail records.