Red Scorpions
Encyclopedia
The Red Scorpions are a gang
based in British Columbia
, Canada
. Originally formed in a young offender
s facility, they have been running “dial-a-dope lines” – (drug trafficking operations) in the suburbs of Vancouver
since 2000. Gang members can be identified by “RS” tattoos on their arms and necks and come from multicultural backgrounds, as the Red Scorpions consider race secondary to loyalty and respect.
They have been involved in an increasing number of well-publicized incidents of gang violence in the Vancouver
area, in part due to their bitter rivalry with the United Nations gang
. The Red Scorpions-United Nations relationship worsened after the infamous Bacon brothers
left the UN to join forces with the Red Scorpions.
The Red Scorpions have also been linked to some of the bloodiest shootings in the region and were allegedly behind the killing of six people in a Whalley condominium in 2007. Dennis Karbovanec pleaded guilty to three of the six killings in April 2009.
police as part of a plea bargain for Karbovanec. He was the target of a gangland hit on New Year's Eve 2008 but due to his Kevlar body armour, survived. Port Moody police issued a public safety warning after he moved into that area. On April 3, 2009, Karbovanec pleaded guilty to the slaying of three of the six killed in the Surrey high-rise slayings of October 19, 2007, after turning himself in. On April 9, 2009 he was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 15 years.
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
based in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Originally formed in a young offender
Young offender
A young offender is a young person who has been convicted or cautioned for a criminal offence. Criminal justice systems often deal with young offenders differently from adult offenders, but different countries apply the term 'young offender' to different age groups depending on the age of criminal...
s facility, they have been running “dial-a-dope lines” – (drug trafficking operations) in the suburbs of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
since 2000. Gang members can be identified by “RS” tattoos on their arms and necks and come from multicultural backgrounds, as the Red Scorpions consider race secondary to loyalty and respect.
They have been involved in an increasing number of well-publicized incidents of gang violence in the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
area, in part due to their bitter rivalry with the United Nations gang
United Nations (gang)
The United Nations Gang or Global United Nations Syndicate is a criminal gang active in the Vancouver, British Columbia area...
. The Red Scorpions-United Nations relationship worsened after the infamous Bacon brothers
Bacon Brothers (gangsters)
The Bacon Brothers, Jonathan , Jarrod and Jamie Bacon, are a trio of alleged gangsters, suspected of multiple firearms and drug trafficking charges and implicated in a rash of homicides that have occurred in the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area...
left the UN to join forces with the Red Scorpions.
The Red Scorpions have also been linked to some of the bloodiest shootings in the region and were allegedly behind the killing of six people in a Whalley condominium in 2007. Dennis Karbovanec pleaded guilty to three of the six killings in April 2009.
Dennis Karbovanec
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 submachine gun to AbbotsfordAbbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
police as part of a plea bargain for Karbovanec. He was the target of a gangland hit on New Year's Eve 2008 but due to his Kevlar body armour, survived. Port Moody police issued a public safety warning after he moved into that area. On April 3, 2009, Karbovanec pleaded guilty to the slaying of three of the six killed in the Surrey high-rise slayings of October 19, 2007, after turning himself in. On April 9, 2009 he was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 15 years.