Yeah, there are lots of very large homes in Houston that kinda look like some drug lord’s mansion. But how can you find one that’s truly authentic? Here’s one way: Look for a property that’s been put on the market by actual U.S. marshals!
Like this 5-bedroom, 4-bath pinkish-brownish stucco crib at 17907 Elk Valley Circle in Ponderosa Trails. It sits on a 2.54-acre lot on a quiet cul-de-sac just south of Cypress Creek near Kuykendahl, and comes complete with the requisite pool and patio, hot tub, double-height porte-cochere, and 4-car garage.
Sure, it sorta looks like it might be the home of a drug kingpin, but so do a lot of other big homes in town built since, say, 2000. What’s this one’s pedigree?
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It’s the well-dusted home of Daron Odell Jones, who pled guilty 2 years ago in an Alabama court to possession of 150kg of cocaine, with an intent to distribute. He agreed to forfeit his home earlier this year — but an expired listing still online appears to show that his home was already for sale . . . as a foreclosure.
Jones also gave up to the feds a million dollars in cash, a 2007 Mercedes Benz S-550, a silver 2006 Maserati, a silver 2006 Ferrari F-430, a black 2007 BMW M6, 3 other cars, 4 wristwatches, a 15-karat white gold woman’s diamond ring, and a 14-karat yellow gold diamond “Jesus” pendant on a necklace.
Was this guy a legitimate drug kingpin or what?
Law enforcement officials said Jones led a drug empire supplying the Mobile, Alabama, area and had ties to a violent Mexican drug cartel. He’s now serving a 13-year sentence — less than the normal minimum of 30 years because Jones also supplied investigators with information about 18 other people involved in his business, including 5 suppliers.
And now . . . his little Houston getaway can be yours! Just think of the stories you’ll be able to tell your guests as you separately climb those dual foyer staircases!
You’ll have a chance to case the 8,024-sq.-ft. property at an open house from 10 am to 1 pm next Wednesday, March 24th. Bidding starts at $471,250, and will take place online from March 29th to 31st.
- USMS: Houston, TX – Single Family Home Situated on 2.54 Acres [Bid4Assets]
- House-hunting? US Marshals to auction former drug kingpin’s Houston mansion [KHOU, via Swamplot inbox]
- 17907 Elk Valley Cir. [Houston Family Homes]
- Houston kingpin gets 13 years for supplying dealers in Mobile, Ala., elsewhere and Dealer gives up his riches [al.com]
I wonder if that house on Fulton in the Lindale Park area belongs to a drug lord?
He agreed to forfeit his home earlier this year — but an expired listing still online appears to show that his home was already for sale . . . as a foreclosure.
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One sure sign the economy isn’t improving is when the drug kingpins start losing their homes to foreclosure.
I wonder if they use drug sales in the retail figures?
If you have a dog, please thoroughly clean the floors! LOL.
From Bob:
I wonder if that house on Fulton in the Lindale Park area belongs to a drug lord?
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Good question! I always assumed it belonged to someone who made it big and wanted to move back to the old neighborhood and show people how big he had made it… Maybe drugs is how he made it big. It is amazingly overblown and out-of-place.
You would think there would be a least one hidden room somewhere.
You could have fun recreating the last scene of Scarface on the dual foyer staircase. I wonder how many times Daron stood at the top of the stairs, smirked, and said “Say hello to my little friend.”
Cap’n McBarnacle,
How much you wanna bet the U.S. Marshall’s do that in every house like this they seize!
Wouldn’t you need the indoor water fountain to make the scene truly authentic? LOL.
Those palms in the back around the pool look like they froze.. If they can be recovered, I’m in!
“Say hello to my little friend” – Scarface
You would have to be on coke to pay 500K for that thing.
Did the US Marshals also nominate the the guess of the week house?
@Bob: I know which house you’re referring to and I wondered the same thing. Some time ago, I asked my friend who lives in that area (off Fulton) about the house and was told that it belongs to a Hispanic professional boxer who grew up in the Lindale Park area.
Wow – hideous! Except for what I *hope* is real hair trim on the upper walls of the kitchen…!
I’d be terrified that word hadn’t spread throughout the drug world that this dealer was now in jail, and that a rival drug cartel would come and assassinate the wrong person, i.e….Me!
I bet the kitchen has seen little use, nothing like a few lines to kill ones appetite
I’d be terrified that word hadn’t spread throughout the drug world that this dealer was now in jail, and that a rival drug cartel would come and assassinate the wrong person, i.e….Me!
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Alwsys a possibility…
@miss_msry: No, it was just a fun coincidence.
The Fulton house belongs to a guy with a roofing company.
From Robert:
The Fulton house belongs to a guy with a roofing company.
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Guess Ike wasn’t so bad for some of us.
I drove by this property Saturday. It seems to me that most of the other homes in the neighborhood are nicer. (go figure!)
i live right behind this king. what a wonderful neighbor to have. it makes the neighborhood so much more fun now. tommorow im gonna go get my paper in my robe with my hairy gut and cigar get myself a gun, get myself a gun:D
I was driving through this neighborhood recently and it made me curious of whatever happened to it. Dig some digging… and, it looks like it sold in September of 2010 for $900,000. Seller is listed as United States of America (!).