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Ronald Clayton Rhodes.Photo byUS Department of Justice

Portland, Oregon - Another top member of the notorious Hoover Criminal Gang, Ronald Clayton Rhodes, 38, from Portland, has been handed a life sentence in federal prison plus 10 years for his involvement in a series of criminal acts, ranging from murder to drug peddling, as part of a broader racketeering conspiracy.

Key Points

• The Hoover Criminal Gang, originating from Los Angeles in the late 1960s, established its operations in Portland by the early 1980s. This gang, characterized by its distinct hierarchical system, expects its members to commit violent acts to maintain or boost their status.
• The Hoovers, known for their violent nature, have numerous rivals in Portland, including several factions of Bloods and Crips. They have gained a notorious reputation as "everybody killers," meaning they retaliate violently against any offense or harm done to any Hoover member.
• Rhodes, who became a member of the Hoovers in 2005, served most of his 11-year association with the gang behind bars. Known in the gang circles as “Big Fly,” Rhodes exhibited leadership qualities, and his violent actions served as an example for the younger “Lil Fly” members.
• The charges against Rhodes stemmed from a 13-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Portland on November 7, 2019. The indictment also named Lorenzo Laron Jones, another senior member of the gang, and two others, accusing them of several crimes, including racketeering conspiracy and murder in furtherance of racketeering.
• On October 19, 2022, both Rhodes and Jones were found guilty by a federal jury on multiple charges. Rhodes, in particular, was implicated in the murder of Kyle Polk near a convenience store in southeast Portland on December 16, 2015.
• Just a week prior to Rhodes' sentencing, on October 26, 2023, Jones was similarly sentenced to life in federal prison plus an additional ten years.
• The convictions of both Rhodes and Jones are part of a more extensive federal probe into the Hoover Criminal Gang's activities. Many more associates and members of the gang are either awaiting trial on federal charges or have already faced convictions for their involvement in the gang's illicit operations.