Looks like Houston’s restaurant drama just got a whole lot spicier.
Lyndell “Lynn” Price — best known for founding the wildly popular Turkey Leg Hut and more recently The Oyster Hut — is facing some serious trouble. Price, 42, was arrested Thursday after leaving his girlfriend’s house, and sources say he was visibly emotional during the arrest. Now, he’s being held in federal custody until his detention hearing next Thursday at 10 a.m.
So, what happened? According to a three-count federal indictment filed April 8 in the Southern District of Texas, Price, along with Armani Williams, 27, and John Lee Price, 39 (no relation), allegedly orchestrated the arson of Bar 5015 back in June 2020. The twist? The bar’s owner was reportedly a former business partner of Price’s.
The charges claim that Lynn Price recruited a group to pour gasoline on the deck and entrance of Bar 5015 before setting it ablaze around 4:44 a.m. — and just minutes later, Price allegedly got a call letting him know the job was done. Investigators say this was a pretty elaborate setup, with gas cans, face coverings, and even a black Ford Fusion as the getaway car.
And that’s not all. Price is also accused of paying associates to torch a stolen 1975 Chevy Nova two months earlier.
If convicted, Price faces up to 20 years in federal prison (plus a hefty $250,000 fine) on the arson charges, and an additional five years for using interstate facilities to commit vehicle arson.
John Lee Price’s attorney, Letitia Quinones-Hollins, made it clear that her client and Lynn Price are not related, adding, “This is a classic example of being very mindful of the company you keep.” (Whew.)
Meanwhile, Armani Williams and John Lee Price have been released on bond — but Lynn Price remains behind bars for now.
The 2020 explosion at Bar 5015 left a mess, with debris scattered throughout Houston’s Museum District and nearby buildings damaged. First responders were quick to extinguish several small fires, but the blast definitely made an impression — and not in a good way.
Stay tuned, because this story is just heating up.
