Former Turkey Leg Hut co-owner Lyndell “Lynn” Price has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a 2020 fire and explosion at a Houston bar, marking the latest legal development for the once-prominent Houston restaurateur.

According to federal court records, Price, 42, entered the guilty plea this week in a case stemming from the June 2020 fire at Bar 5015, a popular Houston nightlife venue owned by one of his former business partners. Details of the plea agreement have not yet been publicly released.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Price orchestrated a plot to set fire to the establishment, recruiting and paying others to carry out the attack. According to the indictment, Price enlisted Armani Williams, 27, and John Lee Price, 39, along with others, to pour gasoline on the entrance of Bar 5015 and ignite it.

The fire triggered an explosion in the early morning hours of June 12, 2020, shaking homes throughout the surrounding area and sending debris across the neighborhood. The Houston Fire Department quickly determined the incident was intentional. Firefighters responding to the scene reported a strong gasoline odor and discovered at least one gas can nearby.

Days later, investigators released surveillance footage that allegedly showed two individuals dousing the building with gasoline before setting it ablaze.

Prosecutors also accused Price of directing a separate arson involving a stolen 1975 Chevrolet Nova. Federal authorities alleged that he paid John Lee Price and others to set fire to the vehicle in an unrelated incident.

Price rose to prominence as the co-owner of Turkey Leg Hut, the Houston restaurant that became a cultural phenomenon and destination for celebrities, tourists and locals alike. At its peak, the Third Ward establishment was celebrated as one of the city’s most recognizable Black-owned businesses, drawing lines around the block and earning national attention.

In recent years, however, the restaurant became embroiled in legal disputes, financial troubles and public controversy before ultimately closing its doors.

Back in March, Price attempted to rebuild, partnering with Tiger2Dozen for a chargrilled oyster pop-up outside of the former TLH restaurant.

The guilty plea comes as Price’s ex-wife and former business partner, Nakia Holmes, works to chart a new path forward.

Earlier this month, ESSENCE reported that Holmes is returning to Houston’s culinary scene with a new turkey leg pop-up in the city’s Third Ward. After years of navigating the rise and fall of Turkey Leg Hut, Holmes described the venture as an opportunity to start over and reconnect with the community that helped build the restaurant into a household name.

The timing highlights the dramatically different chapters unfolding for the former spouses. While Price awaits sentencing in federal court after admitting his role in the arson conspiracy, Holmes is focused on rebuilding her business from the ground up.

For many Houstonians, the story marks another turn in the unraveling of a restaurant that once symbolized Black entrepreneurship, community and cultural influence in the city. Now, as one former owner faces the consequences of a federal criminal case and the other attempts a fresh start, the legacy of Turkey Leg Hut continues to evolve in unexpected ways.