Red Scorpions Gang
RED SCORPIONS
History of the Vancouver’s Red Scorpion Gang:
Red Scorpions, the Vancouver-area drug trafficking gang was formed after the beating death of a 16-year-old in 2000.
Quang Vinh (Michael) Le was been beaten by a group of Korean youths and he wanted to retaliate. He organized over 20 of his friends to attack Richard Jung in Coquitlam karaoke club. Not only did Richards get beated, but 14-year-old Eddie Narong (who was one of six men later executed as part of the “Surrey Six” in 2007).
Narong and Le eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter, however Le and some of those convicted went on to form the Red Scorpions while at Willingdon’s youth detention facility.
In 2006, Le and several other Scorpions were arrested through the RCMP’s Project E-Poison, which focused on a major crack-cocaine “dial-a-dope” operation in Vancouver. After 10 in the ring pleaded guilty, police believed the Scorpions were disbanded, however they have continued to grow, with members of other gangs joining their ranks including the infamous Bacon Brothers, who originally were aligned with the United Nations Gang.
In July 2009, police in Victoria launched Project Mongoose two days after University of Victoria Philbert Truong, 20, was gunned down outside a nightclub. By August they had dismantled another “dial-a-dope” operation in Saanich and arrested six people.
Michael Jackman, Cody Haevischer, Matthew Campbell (partly hidden) James Kyle Bacon, Kevin LeClair, Jonathan Bacon, and Dennis Karbovanec
Red Scorpion Gang Leaders are:
• Jonathan, Jarrod and Jamie Bacon
These 3 brothers are believed to be in the top ranks of a drug-trafficking group which has running links to the Red Scorpions. In the last few months hey have been targeted by the UN gang, who they used to align with. Jonathan, 27, has survived two attempted murders, including one in the driveway of his parents’ Abbotsford home in 2006. Other gangsters tried to kill Jamie, 22, on Jan. 20 during a shooting at a Abbotsford intersection in the middle of the day.
• Somphavanh Chanathabouala
Chanathabouala was charged in Victoria alongside a 16-year-old youth for murder and attempted murder after a shooting outside the Red Jacket nightclub killed Truong and left two wounded. Chanathabouala’s younger brother, Kevin, is a known Red Scorpion drug dealer who, used to live in the same condo where the Surrey Six were killed
• Dennis Karbovanec, associate
Karbovanec was the target of a gang hit on New Year’s Eve, however thanks to his bullet-proof vest he lived to tell the tale. He is currently facing several weapons-related charges. In 2007, his close friend Jonathan Bacon turned over 114 sticks of stolen dynamite, a grenade, seven handguns, two shotguns, a file and an Uzi submachinegun to Abbotsford police as part of a plea bargain for Karbovanec.
• Kevin LeClair, associate
26-year-old LeClair was shot and killed in a violent daylight shooting at an IGA in Langley Feb. 6. Kevin was alleged to have played a key role in both trafficking and money laundering within the Red Scorpions Gang. The day before he was murdered, he was seen having coffee with Jonathan Bacon in Port Moody.
• Jimmy (Grover) Lee, associate
Lee operated a crack house from which he sold meth, other drugs and used tires. He was gunned down last October. He was associated with UN members in North Surrey through the meth and crack trade.
• Konaam Shirzad
Shirzad attempted to get even with a teenager in 2005 who testified against him in court by having another RS Gang member, Nam Hoang, take care of him. The hit went wrong when Hoang’s shooter hitting the wrong Lynn Valley home. Shirzad and Hoang pleaded guilty to mischief endangering life for their involvement.
• Some known members and associates include: Kyle Daniel Ali, Ashley Marie Apolinario, Hishem Bennink, Raphael Jose Blanco, Justin Houchen, Mark Andrew Hubahib, Mario Kraljevic, Tommy Tung Nguyen, Homayon Rafieyan, Aleksander Reljic, Kurtis Schmidt and John Romar Supena.
Red Scorpions Membership:
The Red Scorpions is a multi-ethnic group that has extended its reach throughout the Lower Mainland. Ooriginally based out of Coquitlam and other Lower Mainland suburbs, its members range from mostly young men and a few young men, including Ashley Marie Apolinario who was among six charged for trafficking in a dial-a-dope operation in Victoria last year. Membership is fluid, with members joining and leaving for other splinter gang groups.
The Red Scorpions try and follow the Hells Angels structure as well as their use of imagery, with many gang members having Red Scorpion tattoos including a “RS” tattoo on their wrists, neck or shoulders. 
