former owner was a drug kingpin with ties to a violent Mexican drug cartel

with a colorful history is on the auction block -- the former owner was a drug kingpin with ties to a violent Mexican drug cartel. The home is located on 17907 Elk Valley Circle in northwest Harris County. "It has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths. It's 8,000 square feet," said Alfredo Perez, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The luxurious home includes a pool, scenic backyard and a lot of notoriety. It all belonged to illegitimate businessman Daron Jones. "The guy that had this house was running a drug smuggling business," said Perez. During a raid a couple of years ago, federal agents found cash that Jones hid from his drug empire. He is accused of smuggling 300 pounds of cocaine to dealers in Alabama and other places across the U.S. "This house was basically bought with drug money, and because of that we seized the house and now we're going to sell it," said Perez. mansion with a colorful history is on the auction block -- the former owner was a drug kingpin with ties to a violent Mexican drug cartel. The home is located on 17907 Elk Valley Circle in northwest Harris County. "It has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths. It's 8,000 square feet," said Alfredo Perez, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The luxurious home includes a pool, scenic backyard and a lot of notoriety. It all belonged to illegitimate businessman Daron Jones. "The guy that had this house was running a drug smuggling business," said Perez. During a raid a couple of years ago, federal agents found cash that Jones hid from his drug empire. He is accused of smuggling 300 pounds of cocaine to dealers in Alabama and other places across the U.S. "This house was basically bought with drug money, and because of that we seized the house and now we're going to sell it," said Perez. Online bidding starts at $471,000. Throughout the years, it has been appraised from between $750,000 and $1.7 million. What is not for sale are the items already forfeited, including eight luxury cars, jewelry and one million dollars in drug money. "Whatever profit we make from this sale is going straight into the general fund to help the U.S. government," said Perez. Stripping drug dealers of their property is one of the most effective ways to shut down their operation. "Obviously the hope for the house is for somebody to buy it and take care of it and just be an active part of the community," said Jake Kizer, who lives in the Ponderosa Trails neighborhood. On Wednesday, there is an open house for people who have already place a deposit. The online bidding begins on March 29 and ends on March 31. Jones is serving a 13-year prison sentence.Online bidding starts at $471,000. Throughout the years, it has been appraised from between $750,000 and $1.7 million. What is not for sale are the items already forfeited, including eight luxury cars, jewelry and one million dollars in drug money. "Whatever profit we make from this sale is going straight into the general fund to help the U.S. government," said Perez. Stripping drug dealers of their property is one of the most effective ways to shut down their operation.
"Obviously the hope for the house is for somebody to buy it and take care of it and just be an active part of the community," said Jake Kizer, who lives in the Ponderosa Trails neighborhood. On Wednesday, there is an open house for people who have already place a deposit. The online bidding begins on March 29 and ends on March 31. Jones is serving a 13-year prison sentence.