Bacon brothers
The Bacon brothers, Jonathan, Jarrod, and Jamie Bacon, are a trio of gangsters from Abbotsford, British Columbia, who are suspected of multiple firearms and drug trafficking charges and implicated in a rash of homicides in the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area. As leaders of the Red Scorpions gang, they were implicated in major crimes including the 2007 Surrey Six massacre. Their criminal careers, marked by drug trafficking, firearms offences, and murder conspiracies, have resulted in significant prison sentences. The eldest brother, Jonathan, was murdered in Kelowna on August 14, 2011.
Early Life and Entry into Crime
The Bacon brothers were raised in a middle-class family in Abbotsford, the sons of David, a special education teacher, and Susan, a property manager. Jonathan attended W. J. Mouat Secondary School, while Jarrod and Jamie attended Yale Secondary School. All three brothers excelled in wrestling, with Jarrod and Jamie winning provincial championships. Despite their athletic success, the brothers became involved in criminal activity during their teenage years. Jonathan Bacon was first arrested in 2000 for drug possession and again in 2001 for possession of stolen goods, while Jamie was arrested for assault at age 15 in 2001. Neighbours noted a sudden influx of expensive cars, jewellery, and clothing among the brothers, widely assumed to be funded by drug dealing. In 2001, the family's purchase of a large, seven-bedroom home on Strathcona Court raised questions in the community about the source of their wealth.
By the early 2000s, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police believed the Bacon brothers were working with the United Nations gang, though they held its leader, Clayton Roueche, in contempt. Their aggressive behaviour made them feared figures in their neighbourhood. Jarrod faced an attempted murder charge in 2004 after a shooting at the Fraser Valley Inn, but the charges were dropped when the victim refused to testify. In 2005, Jarrod was also charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking after police seized over 700 marijuana plants and growing equipment. Journalist Jerry Langton noted the brothers were typical of Lower Mainland gangsters who came from affluent, supportive families but chose a path of crime for financial gain.
Escalation and Leadership of the Red Scorpions
In 2005, Jonathan Bacon moved to a house on Winfield Drive with his girlfriend, Rayleene Burton. Police surveillance led to his arrest on August 4, 2005, alongside drug dealer Godwin Cheng, with police finding drugs and cash in Cheng's car and $88,000 in Burton's SUV. A subsequent search of Bacon's home revealed four handguns, a police scanner, and a genuine police constable's uniform. Later that year, Jamie Bacon and Denis Karbovanec of the Red Scorpions were arrested for uttering death threats and pointing weapons. A key moment occurred on September 21, 2006, when Jonathan Bacon was wounded in a drive-by shooting at the family's Strathcona Court home.
This attack accelerated the brothers' formal alliance with the Red Scorpions gang in 2006, a partnership believed to have been orchestrated by the Hells Angels to create a puppet gang. The Bacon brothers quickly assumed leadership control of the Red Scorpions. In February 2007, they moved to a luxurious rental house at 15830 106th Avenue in Surrey, a municipality policed by the RCMP. On April 13, 2007, Jamie Bacon survived an assassination attempt in his driveway, firing back at gunmen while wearing a bulletproof vest, which he later told police was part of his lifestyle. In May 2010, Jamie was convicted on all 11 charges related to a 2007 gun cache discovery.
The Surrey Six Massacre and Gang War
The Lower Mainland gang war from 2007 to 2009 pitted the Red Scorpions against the United Nations gang, with the Hells Angels supplying weapons to both sides. Allied with the United Nations was the Dhak-Duhre gang. A dispute over drug territory taxes led to the Surrey Six massacre on October 19, 2007. Red Scorpions hitmen entered unit 1505 at the Balmoral Tower in Surrey targeting Corey Jason Lal, who had refused to pay a $100,000 tax demanded by Jamie Bacon. The hitmen found Lal with his brother Michael, associate Ryan Bartolomeo, and founding Red Scorpion Edward Narong. All four, along with two innocent bystanders, Edward Schellenberg and Christopher Mohan, were shot dead.
Justice Kathleen Ker later stated Jamie Bacon was the chief architect of this plot, driven by ego and a need to deter disrespect. The investigation, led by Staff Sergeant Derek Brassington of the Surrey RCMP, was nearly derailed by misconduct among detectives, who faced fraud charges for billing overtime while drinking in bars and strip clubs. The massacre occurred against a backdrop of public fear, exacerbated by the legacy of the Pickton case. The Bacon brothers were glamorized by some media until victim advocate Eileen Mohan, mother of Christopher, began speaking out in 2008 to decry their glorification. In early 2008, United Nations leader Clayton Roueche recruited members of Calgary's Fresh Off the Boat Killers gang to kill the Bacon brothers.
Legal Proceedings and Convictions
The legal consequences for the Bacon brothers and their associates unfolded over more than a decade. Jamie Bacon was arrested on April 3, 2009, for his role in the Surrey Six killings. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder for his role in orchestrating Corey Lal's death and received an 18-year sentence. With credit for pre-trial custody, this amounted to an additional five years and seven months. He was released on April 22, 2026, upon completing his full sentence.
Jarrod Bacon was sentenced in May 2012 to a 12-year prison term for conspiracy to traffic cocaine, reduced to seven years and two months after time served. Justice Austin Cullen ruled Jarrod's criminal history and lack of employment offered little optimism for rehabilitation. After his release, he was arrested in January 2025 in connection with a shooting in Fort Nelson, but the charge was dropped the following month. The eldest brother, Jonathan Bacon, was murdered in Kelowna on August 14, 2011. In a related prosecution, United Nations gang member Conor D'Monte was sentenced on April 1, 2025, to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to murder the Bacon brothers and their associates between January 1, 2008, and February 17, 2009. D'Monte had fled to Puerto Rico and was extradited in 2024.
- Jamie Bacon: Sentenced 2020 to 18 years for conspiracy to commit murder (Surrey Six). Also pleaded guilty to robbery in 2007 for a 2005 home invasion, sentenced to time served.
- Jarrod Bacon: Sentenced 2012 to 12 years for conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Attempted murder charge stayed in 2004.
- Conor D'Monte: Sentenced April 1, 2025 to 15 years for conspiracy to murder the Bacons.
- Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston: Convicted 2014 of six counts of first-degree murder for Surrey Six.
- Denis Karbovanec: Pleaded guilty in April 2009 to three counts of first-degree murder for Surrey Six.
- Jason McBride: Pleaded guilty in 2018 to second-degree murder for the Delta Grand Hotel attack that killed Jonathan Bacon.
Impact and Aftermath
The Bacon brothers' criminal saga exposed the deadly nature of gang conflicts and tested the justice system. The Surrey Six massacre became a symbol of the collateral damage of gang violence, claiming the lives of two innocent individuals. The case spurred the formation of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, a specialized gang task force. The misconduct of RCMP detectives Derek Brassington, David Attew, and Danny Michaud, who were convicted in 2019, prompted scrutiny of police practices.
Public perception was also affected. For a time, the Bacon brothers were celebrated in some circles, their flashy lifestyle attracting media attention. This glamorization was actively challenged by victims' families, most notably Eileen Mohan, who became a powerful advocate. The release of Jamie Bacon in 2026 to Edmonton reignited public debate about sentencing and parole. The Integrated Gang Task Force reported in September 2009 that eight associates of the brothers had been murdered since a police warning. The case shows the complex challenges of policing gang-related crime in British Columbia.
Key Figures and Gang Affiliations
The conflict involving the Bacon brothers drew in multiple gangs and individuals. The Red Scorpions, which the Bacons came to lead, were a major faction. Opposing them was the United Nations gang, led by Clayton Roueche, who was arrested in Texas in May 2008. The Hells Angels and their puppet gang, the Independent Soldiers, played a background role, with members like Larry Amero forming the Wolfpack Alliance with Jonathan Bacon in 2010. Key associates included Denis Karbovanec and Anton Hooites-Meursing of the Red Scorpions. The victims of the Surrey Six included Red Scorpions defectors. Law enforcement efforts were led by units like the CFSEU, though the case was marred by the actions of detectives like Staff Sergeant Derek Brassington.
| Figure | Role/Affiliation | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton Roueche | Leader, United Nations gang | Arrested in Texas in 2008, dismissed Bacon brothers as errand boys |
| Denis Karbovanec | Red Scorpions member | Pleaded guilty in 2009 to three Surrey Six murders, arrested with Jamie in 2005 and 2006 |
| Cody Haevischer | Red Scorpions hitman | Convicted 2014 for Surrey Six murders |
| Matthew Johnston | Red Scorpions hitman | Convicted 2014, died 2022 |
| Eileen Mohan | Mother of victim Christopher Mohan | Prominent victims' rights advocate, spoke out against glamorization from 2008 |
| Justice Kathleen Ker | B.C. Supreme Court Justice | Presided over Jamie Bacon's sentencing, called plot diabolical |
| Larry Amero | Hells Angels member, Wolfpack Alliance | Critically injured in the August 2011 attack that killed Jonathan Bacon |
| Sukhveer Dhak | Dhak-Duhre gang leader | Hired hitmen who killed Jonathan Bacon in 2011, murdered in 2012 |
Questions about Bacon brothers
What happened to Jamie Bacon?
Jamie Bacon pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiracy to commit murder for his role in the Surrey Six killings and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. With credit for nearly 12 years in pre-trial detention, he served an additional five years and seven months. He was released on April 22, 2026, and resides in Edmonton, Alberta, under supervision. While in custody, he successfully sued over his solitary confinement conditions in 2010.
How did the Bacon brothers' case affect British Columbia?
The case led to the formation of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, a specialized gang task force. It highlighted police misconduct during the Surrey Six investigation, leading to convictions of detectives in 2019. The glamorization of the brothers prompted public debate, countered by victims' advocates like Eileen Mohan. The Integrated Gang Task Force reported eight associates of the brothers were murdered in 2009 following a police warning.
Who were the Bacon brothers?
The Bacon brothers were Jonathan, Jarrod, and Jamie Bacon, gangsters from Abbotsford, British Columbia. They were suspected of firearms and drug trafficking charges and implicated in multiple homicides. The brothers, from a middle-class family, partnered with and took leadership control of the Red Scorpions gang in 2006. Jonathan was murdered in 2011. Jamie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder in the Surrey Six case.
What was the Surrey Six massacre?
The Surrey Six massacre was a gangland killing on October 19, 2007, where six people were shot dead inside unit 1505 at the Balmoral Tower in Surrey. The dead included four gangsters: Edward Narong, Corey Jason Lal, his brother Michael Justin Lal, and Ryan Bartolomeo. Two innocent bystanders, Chris Mohan and Edward Schellenberg, were also killed. Justice Kathleen Ker stated that Jamie Bacon was the chief architect of the massacre, motivated by a drug tax dispute and ego.
What happened to Jarrod Bacon?
Jarrod Bacon was sentenced in May 2012 to 12 years in prison for conspiracy to traffic cocaine, reduced to seven years and two months after time served. He was charged with attempted murder in 2004, but the charges were dropped. In January 2025, he was arrested in connection with a shooting in Fort Nelson, but the charge was dropped the following month. He has frequently violated parole conditions, including a bar fight in 2017 and failing a cocaine test in 2018.
Who was convicted for plotting to kill the Bacon brothers?
Conor D'Monte was convicted for conspiring to murder the Bacon brothers and their associates. He was a member of the United Nations gang and received a 15-year prison sentence on April 1, 2025. D'Monte had fled to Puerto Rico and was extradited to Canada in 2024 for this crime. The plot was originally initiated by United Nations gang boss Clayton Roueche in early 2008. Roueche recruited hitmen from Calgary's Fresh Off the Boat Killers gang to target the Bacon brothers during the Lower Mainland gang war.
Sources and further reading
- Bacon brothers (Wikipedia)
- Man sentenced to years in prison for Bacon brothers' murder (vancouver.citynews.ca)
- Gangster gets 15 years for plot to kill Bacon brothers in ... (surreynowleader.com)
- 'Surrey Six' murders mastermind Jamie Bacon released ... (cbc.ca)
Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.
