New developments surfaced Tuesday in the federal arson case against former Turkey Leg Hut co-owner Lynn Price.
Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to deny a motion to dismiss the indictment against Lynn, rejecting claims of a conflict of interest involving attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins.
The U.S. government filed a formal response denying Lynn’s claims that attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins had a conflict of interest when she later represented his co-defendant, John Lee Price.
Lynn’s legal team previously argued that Quinones-Hollins’ involvement violated his right to a fair trial, alleging she facilitated conversations between John Lee Price and federal prosecutors while having a prior attorney-client relationship with Lynn.
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But according to federal prosecutors, Quinones-Hollins last represented Lynn in 2016 on an unrelated federal tax fraud case. In 2021, both parties mutually agreed she would no longer serve as his attorney, and the government said she was never involved in his arson case.
Prosecutors also noted Quinones-Hollins’ role in the FBI’s investigation was incidental. She participated in a phone call during surveillance but did not act as Lynn’s legal representative at the time.
In their filing, the government asked the court to deny Lynn‘s motion to dismiss the indictment or suppress evidence tied to John Lee Price, arguing there’s no basis to claim a conflict or suppress evidence.
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The government also requested a hearing to further address whether a potential conflict exists and whether Quinones-Hollins and attorney Moore should remain as counsel for John Lee Price.
Lynn faces three federal charges for allegedly orchestrating the June 2020 arson at Bar 5015 in Houston. He has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.
Backstory
According to a motion filed in federal court, Lynn and attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins’ relationship dates back to at least 2020, when Quinones-Hollins represented Lynn in a separate federal case in Houston.
READ: Former owner of Turkey Leg Hut held pending trial due to ‘overwhelming evidence’
The filing claims that while Quinones-Hollins was still representing Lynn, the alleged arson at Bar 5015 took place between April and June 2020. Lynn‘s attorneys argue that because of the ongoing relationship, the attorney had a duty to protect his rights even after that case concluded.
Court documents also reveal that after John Lee Price was charged in a separate Mississippi drug case in 2023, he quickly agreed to cooperate with federal investigators in the unsolved Houston arson case. Attorneys for Lynn allege that Quinones-Hollins helped facilitate those proffer sessions and plea negotiations while knowing she previously represented Lynn, creating a conflict of interest.
The motion claims that federal prosecutors should have flagged the conflict but did not, and that key evidence, including statements from John Lee Price implicating Lynn in the arson, resulted from multiple meetings arranged with the assistance of Quinones-Hollins.
In their argument, Lynn‘s attorneys wrote: “At minimum, the Government should have inquired into the apparent conflict of interest, but did not. Likewise, Attorney Quinones-Hollins failed to protect Mr. Price’s rights when she was made aware by John Lee Price of his desire to cooperate against Mr. Price and contacted the Government to facilitate a proffer session implicating Mr. Price.”
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As a result, the defense is asking a federal judge to either dismiss the indictment or suppress any evidence connected to John Lee Price, arguing that Lynn‘s Sixth Amendment rights and right to a fair trial have been violated.
Statement from Letitia Quiñones-Hollins:
“The allegations made are not true and the facts will be flushed out as they are.”
She added that Lynn Price has had other court cases since 2021 and she did not represent him.
In full disclosure, Letitia Quinones-Hollins has been used as a legal analyst for KPRC 2 prior, unrelated court cases.
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