United Nations (gang)

The United Nations Gang or Global United Nations Syndicate (GUNS) is a criminal gang active in the Vancouver, British Columbia area. The name alludes to the various ethnic origins of the members.

Name and Identification

All ethnic groups were encouraged to join thus the gang name, the United Nations (UN)^[1] or Global United Nations Syndicate (GUNS). The Gang consists of primarily Whites, Asians, Indo Canadians, Persians etc.^[2][3][4]

History

Formation

The UN gang was formed in Abbotsford in the late 1990s by a group of high-school friends from around the Fraser Valley. What began as a loose-knit group of Abbotsford thugs linked to Asian organized crime grew quickly over the years. They began a profitable drug running enterprise involving helicopters flying across the US-Canada border trading much sought after British Columbian cannabis for cocaine to be sold in Canada.^[5]

As a new criminal organization the group fought a number of turf wars against other gangs, such as the Independent Soldiers, as it sought to establish itself.^[3] One of its biggest rivals was the Hells Angels but recently the two groups have been working together as shown by the arrest of Omid Bayani, a mid level member of the gang who was arrested as part of an investigation looking at criminal actions of the Hells Angels.^[6]

Relationship with the Hells Angels

On 8 May 2008, former Hells Angels prospect and UN gang member Duane Harvey Meyer, 41 and nicknamed D.W., was killed, with the funeral held on May 15, 2008. Full members of the Hells Angels and UN gang members were at the funeral, with news stations and police agencies on hand to videotape all visitors. Whenever a United Nations member dies, he gets a special tombstone featuring the letters "UN" across it.^[7]

Arrests

Before a number of its leaders were arrested the police estimated the gang had 50-100 core members in the Lower Mainland area of B.C. The alleged leader of the United Nations Gang is Clayton Roueche.^[4] Roueche grew up in Chilliwack, B.C. He later moved out to Abbotsford, B.C. and then on to Vancouver. Roueche had an obsession with martial arts and became involved in the drug scene at an early age.

As part of an American investigation into drug trafficking on a stopover in Texas on a flight from Mexico City May 17, 2008, Roueche was arrested for conspiring to possess cocaine, conspiring to export cocaine, conspiring to import marijuana, and conspiring to launder money and was subsequently deported to the United States. Roueche faced up to a maximum of 220 years in prison, but he was sentenced to 30 years and $8 million in fines. He was flown to Seattle to answer to the charges.^[8] There are currently warrants out for eight other UN gang members and more are expected. Other members arrested as part of the international investigation were UN members Daryl Johnson and Douglas Vanalstine.^[5]

Jong Ca John Lee is believed to have supplied the gang with guns. On June 9, 2007, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) was called to his residence due to an unanswered 911 call. Lee answered the door, and police saw what looked like firearms inside the apartment. A subsequent search revealed a dozen guns (some loaded, and some with defaced serial numbers), including automatic and semi-automatic rifles, and almost two dozen magazines of ammunition. Lee, who had no criminal record, pleaded guilty in September 2007 to all 10 charges. Lee also pleaded guilty to possession of 3.5 kilograms of ecstasy for the purposes of trafficking, 900 grams of marijuana, a Panther stun gun, a silencer, and three stolen Canadian passports obtained through a home invasion. He was sentenced to five years each on two of the weapons charges and two years on each of the other charges, to be served concurrently.

The former de facto leader of the United Nations gang was Barzan Tilli-Choli, an Iraqi immigrant responsible for a myriad of crimes, none more infamous than his conspiracy to murder the notorious Bacon brothers (the Bacon brothers are believed to be high-ranking members of the rival Red Scorpion Gang). Tilli-Choli's elaborate plot to murder the Bacon brothers manifested in his arrest in April 2009.^[9]

2004 saw the arrest at a Calgary hotel of drug and chemical importer, Paul Vincent. Known for his unmatched ability to circumnavigate border security, Vincent was in possession of a vehicle-mounted Bren machine gun, a number of barrels of banned chemicals and $585,000 in cash. In a lengthy trial, the prosecution sought a 21-year sentence. The trial was brought to close with a dismissal due to an evidence-seizure technicality.

Involvement in 2009 Vancouver Gang Violence

In late 2008 and early 2009, a violent gang war was brewing in the Lower Mainland area of B.C., with the UN gang believed to be playing a major role in it. Police have issued warnings to the public in regard to associating with Jonathan (Jon), Jarrod, and James (Jamie) Bacon, as well as Dennis Karbovanec. Known as the "Bacon Brothers," they have been targeted by other gangs and criminal organizations. Eldest brother Jonathan Bacon survived an attempt on his life in front of his parents' home. There have also been numerous attempts on the lives of youngest brother James. The United Nations gang is believed by police and media to be the group responsible for these attacks. The Bacons are linked up with Michael Le's Red Scorpion gang from the Lower Mainland. On Sunday August 14, 2011 Jonathan Bacon was shot dead in Kelowna, BC. His murder remains unsolved.

References

External links

• Kim Bolan (February 28, 2009). "Reformed United Nations gangster recalls vice and virtues of lifestyle". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2011-03-29.