So, why all this trouble?

Although the "why" ultimately does not matter, and no one can really know what goes on inside Steven's mind, much has been discovered since July of 2022, indicating one possible reason. As noted, Steven stated to some buyers that the money had been spent, specifically purchasing property, and there may have been an actual half-truth buried in that.

Through public records searches, it was found that Steven Salmon, under MOGOWI LLC, filed for a marijuana building exemption at 35520 SE Gunderson Rd Sandy OR, in Clackamas County.

MOGOWI LLC? What?

When it was stated that Steven values his privacy and anonymity, it was not just hyperbole. Steven appears to have no online presence, no social media accounts, offers a strip mall box (16409 SE Division St #216, Portland, OR 97236) as his mail address and deals only in cash (well, wire transfers too, of course). A background report provided by a concerned KLOV forum member showed that while Steven had an extensive low-level criminal history, not much else was available; he essentially has nothing in his name other than a 14 year old car.

Steven has taken years to cultivate this private lifestyle, perhaps in less than legal means. When he had his home built at 47454 Dowling Rd in Sandy OR, it was cited for being built without permits. And it only took Clackamas County Code Enforcement 7 years to act. One of the benefits of doing so in Clackamas County appears to be that although taxes are still owed on the property (along with possible fines and penalties, if they ever get around to it), the county doesn't seem to have a clear record of the building.

Recently, Steven applied for a permit to abate the violation for the detached building, describing it as a "game room". On the application he lists his address as 35520 SE Gunderson Rd.

The property is listed in Clackamas County records as owned by KHOLLIS LLC. KHOLLIS LLC was registered in 2016 by Terence McLaughlin, Steven's lawyer, with K Hollis listed as the manager and the same Dowling Rd address as the principal place of business. To further demonstrate Steven's deceptive nature, this is the Assessor info from early October 2022 with Steven listed as the taxpayer and this is info from 2023, with KHOLLIS LLC now listed as the taxpayer per a Taxpayer Change event on 10/17/2022, though retaining Steven's strip mall box address. The owner address for KHOLLIS was also changed from Terence McLaughlin's PO Box to Steven's mailing address.

Also note that a previous owner of the Dowling Rd property is Curtis Safley. Curtis also happens to be the listed current owner of another parcel, a manufactured building, at the same 47454 Dowling Rd site address (the building that appears in both the aerial photo and the basemap above). And again, Curtis shows up listed as the current owner of the marijuana grow property at 35520 SE Gunderson Rd Sandy OR (note the $420,000 sale price. Super clever.). Coincidence? Not only that, but the other listed purchaser on that Gunderson Rd property is Robert Grigoryan, who is listed as the registered agent and President of Dahlia Farms, a marijuana growing operation.

Confused by all these layers? That's likely what Steven is hoping for.

But back to MOGOWI and the marijuana grow operation.... On 7/19/22 (just 2 weeks after Steven began his listings), Curtis Safley, as the property owner, submitted a land use application for marijuana production at the Gunderson Rd address, and paid over $1200 in fees. It was filed on behalf of MOGOWI LLC, with Terence McLaughlin listed as the contact. To no one's surprise, that address also had a violation in January 2022 for constructing the two 6000 sq ft buildings without a permit. And again, the county map shows no buildings at this address.