A federal jury convicted two men late Monday in connection with a 2017 slaying.
Taquan “Boonie” Clarke and Devontae “Lil Cuz” Martin, both 29, were indicted in February 2018 with cocaine trafficking and using a firearm to commit murder. Both pleaded not guilty.
Both were indicted in connection with the July 28, 2017 shooting death of Kevin Hood, 43, of Gary.
The car wash owner was killed during a robbery outside his business, Shine On Hand Car Wash, near 15th Street and Massachusetts Street, according to Gary Police.
The FBI’s Gang Response Investigative Team, Gary Police, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department investigated. Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick, Caitlin M. Padula, and Kimberly L. Schultz prosecuted the six-day trial.
Clarke and Martin were two of nine people named in a 19-count indictment in 2018 for a drug ring linked to Hood’s murder and a second homicide in 2016.
Teddia “Teddy” Caldwell, named as a co-defendant, pled guilty in August 2022.
According to documents, Caldwell admitted leading a cocaine ring from 2016 to 2018, which sold drugs out of his home and car wash business.
Caldwell admitted he conspired with Clarke, Martin and another unnamed person to rob Hood of a “large amount” of “cocaine and/or money”, while splitting the proceeds, according to his plea agreement.
Caldwell said he saw Martin and Hood fighting in the street, while Clarke ran up and shot Hood, according to court records.
