HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Lyndell "Lynn" Price, the former owner of Third Ward's now-closed Turkey Leg Hut, has been arrested and indicted in connection with a 2020 explosion of a popular bar that officials deemed was "intentionally set," according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Price, 42, along with Armani Williams, 27, and John Lee Price, 39, appeared before a magistrate judge on Friday, April 25, 2025. Lynn Price did not have his bond set during the hearing.
The indictment, handed down earlier in April, alleged that Price and the others conspired to set fire to Houston's Bar 5015. The bar's owner, Steven Rodgers, was a former co-owner of the Turkey Leg Hut and Price's former business partner. On June 12, 2020, Price, who owned the Oyster Hut on Emancipation Avenue, allegedly recruited a group, including Williams and John, to pour gasoline on the bar's entrance ramp before igniting the fire. The building eventually exploded, leaving it in ruins.
According to documents, Price paid the group for the act. Former Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Pena stated that multiple gas containers were found near the scene of the explosion. "First, it was just disbelief," said bar owner Steven Rodgers, reflecting on the incident during an earlier interview with ABC13. Despite the destruction, Bar 5015 was eventually restored and became fully operational again.
This is not the first instance of Lynn Price's run-ins with law enforcement. The Turkey Leg Hut, once a booming staple in Houston, was embroiled in a legal battle after Price owed about $4.7 million to creditors and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He co-owned the restaurant with his ex-wife, Nakia Holmes. In early 2024, the Turkey Leg Hut caught fire before shutting its doors indefinitely.
In April 2020, prior to the Bar 5015 incident, Lynn Price allegedly paid others to set fire to a stolen blue 1975 Chevy Nova. All involved in the Bar 5015 incident are charged with conspiracy to commit arson and arson, facing up to 20 years in prison, along with a maximum fine of $250,000. Lynn and John Price are also charged with conspiracy to use an interstate facility to commit arson of a vehicle, which could add another five years to their sentences if convicted.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the recent arrests were the culmination of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Houston Police Department. The charges against Lynn, Williams, and John are serious, alleging that they conspired to commit arson on June 12, 2020, at Bar 5015, located at 5015 Almeda Rd.
Prosecutors claim that Lynn Price recruited accomplices who poured gasoline at the entrance ramp of the bar and set it ablaze. First responders rushed to Bar 5015 following a reported explosion around 4:45 a.m. on that fateful day. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the damage to the building was extensive, with debris scattered along the roadways.
Initial investigations revealed that two to three gas cans were found on the premises, along with an ignition source. A month later, Bar 5015 reopened, serving cocktails and food for the popular "Sunday Funday" event. However, the legal troubles for Price did not end there. In July 2020, Steven Rodgers sued Price and his then-wife Nakia Holmes for financial mismanagement just weeks after the explosion. Although the initial suit was settled, Rodgers filed another lawsuit in February 2023, accusing Price and Holmes of defaulting on an agreement regarding the buyout of his shares in the restaurant.
In March 2024, the Turkey Leg Hut was ordered to pay Rodgers $931,111.12; the restaurant declared bankruptcy during the case. This financial turmoil came amid a series of unfortunate events for Price, as the Turkey Leg Hut faced two separate fires in March and April 2024, although the causes of these fires remain undisclosed.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications for Lynn Price and his co-defendants are severe. Each suspect faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the building arson charges, alongside a hefty fine. Furthermore, Lynn and John Price's involvement in the vehicle arson could lead to an additional five years in prison if found guilty.
Defense attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins, representing John Lee Price, commented on the charges, stating, "This is a classic example of being very mindful of the company you keep. Sometimes, the company you keep can get you into trouble." It is important to note that despite sharing the same last name, John Lee Price and Lyndell Leroy Price are not related.
As of now, Armani Williams and John Lee Price have been released on bond, while Lynn Price remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 1, 2025. Federal prosecutors plan to argue for his continued detention, asserting that he poses a danger to the community.
The investigation into the Bar 5015 explosion continues, as authorities seek to unravel the complexities of this case. With the Turkey Leg Hut's legacy marred by legal troubles and allegations of arson, the story serves as a cautionary tale in the world of entrepreneurship.
