Four members of the notorious Hoover Criminal Gang are facing federal charges for the murder of a Portland man in a case that is shining a spotlight on the gang's violent activities. Taezhon Tyreik Kelly, 23, Anthony Devion Bagsby, 32, Delane William Roy, 25, and Cocoa Dalonta Taplin, 28, were indicted for engaging in murder in aid of racketeering, connected to the brazen execution of a man identified only by his initials D.M. in December 2020. The indictment, obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice, states that the killing was orchestrated to maintain and boost the gang members' stature within the criminal hierarchy.
According to authorities, the Hoover Criminal Gang, which traces its origins back to Los Angeles in the 1960s and has since planted roots in Oregon, operates with a focus on violent crimes, including murder, robbery, and drug trafficking. In the recent arrests, Bagsby and Taplin were apprehended by the combined efforts of the FBI, Portland Police Bureau, and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. They are staring down a trial set for April 30, while Kelly and Roy, who were arrested in Texas and Louisiana, respectively, await their court date.
The quartet's indictment alleges that the murder of D.M. was committed with the specific intent to sustain and enhance the gang members' positions within the Hoover Criminal Gang, an entity with a history steeped in the blood of its violent endeavors. Each defendant has also been charged with using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm.
The investigation into the Hoovers' operations was a joint effort by multiple agencies, including the Gresham Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. In a bid to clamp down on the violence perpetuated by such gangs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case. The prosecution also results from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program, targeting high-level criminal organizations across America.
To combat violent crimes, initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods have been created. The Department of Justice describes PSN as an evidence-based program that has proven effective in reducing violent crime. It involves collaboration among law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and local prevention and reentry programs to develop comprehensive strategies to address violent crime and focus enforcement efforts on the most dangerous offenders.
