FBI agents conducting searches on two upscale Houston homes

Federal law enforcement officers are searching two homes in upscale Houston neighborhoods Friday morning, officials said.

KBTX reports a third FBI search is being conducted on a condo in Bryan.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/phajh2u

The first search warrant was executed at the house near Rice Village in the 2000 block of Albans near Wilton in the Southampton neighborhood, according to the FBI.

FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap said there is another site being searched simultaneously at 411 Fall River Road in the Memorial area.

Federal officials said they could not release other information because documents in the case have been sealed.

The same woman’s name appears on Harris County appraisals for both properties.

The Harris County Appraisal District lists the owners of 2025 Albans as Andrew E. Schneck and Cecily E. Horton. The property, valued at $1.53 million, includes a 4,800-square-foot house with nine rooms and a swimming pool.

The Harris County Appraisal District lists the owner of 411 Fall River as Cecily E. Horton. The property, valued at $1.29 million, includes a 5,220-square-foot house with 11 rooms.

A neighbor showed a list with both Andrew Schneck and Cecily Horton both listed on the Longwoods Homeowners Association, where the Fall River home is located.

A neighbor of the Fall River home named Liz, who declined to give her last name, said the owner of the house is an A&M proffesor. She said the couple’s son is a college age kid who was rumored to be looking at suspect web sites.

It appeared agents entering the home on Albans are wearing protective clothing, including purple gloves, white long-sleeve suits, and high, yellow boots. Two agents were also being suited up with masks rigged with a breathing apparatus.

Dunlap did say precautions are taken in all searches, especially when there is a chance that hazardous materials are present. However, officials couldn’t discuss whether hazardous materials were present at either home.

Residents in the Albans area say they have never seen anything like this before in their neighborhood and were curious why the FBI would be at the home.

“It’s crazy,” said 70-year-old Brad Fleming, who said he’s lived in the neighborhood for about 25 years.

Another resident, Travis Broesche, who said he’s lived in the neighborhood for about 25 years, said he and other neighbors believe the area and the house have been under surveillance for some time. He and others have noticed one or two cars parked at the curb not too far from the home for hours with a single person sitting inside.

One resident was worried enough about the cars to call the neighborhood security patrol. Broesche said the person was told it was possible surveillance by the FBI or a private investigator but there was no reason to be concerned.

When asked what he thought about the police activity, Broesche said, “It’s the world we live in.”

Residents say the home was purchased about a year ago, but they didn’t know the current occupants.

A similar situation is reported by neighbors in the Memorial area near Fall River.

Tom Smith said his 88-year-old mother lives two houses from the scene of the FBI search. He said she’s lived there 45 years and it has always been a quiet neighborhood.

Dunlap said the searches began at around 9 a.m., and no arrests have been made.

Reporters Carol Christian and Craig Hlavaty contributed to this story.