ON August 13, Cory Vallee was arrested in Guadalajara, Mexico, after four years of evading police in connection to the homicides of Jonathan Barber and Kevin LeClair.
Mexican authorities worked quickly – and in partnership with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team – to confirm Vallee’s identity and escort him back to British Columbia.
On Monday (August 18), Vallee was remanded and his next court appearance is set for Thursday, August 21.
On May 9, 2008, at about 10 p.m. shots rang out in the 7000 block of Kingsway in Burnaby. Several rounds of gunfire hit a black 2008 Porsche Cayenne that was driven by 24-year-old Jonathan Barber. Barber was killed in the hail of gunfire. The vehicle was associated with the Bacon brothers and this was apparently a case of mistaken identity.
On February 6, 2009, 27-year-old Kevin LeClair, a high-ranking Red Scorpion member and very close associate of the Bacon crime group, was murdered in a hail of gunfire during a brazen daytime shooting. The gunfire erupted throughout the quiet community of Walnut Grove at the Thunderbird Shopping Center as LeClair left a restaurant and lounge located in that plaza.
A/Supt. Dwayne McDonald, Officer-in-Charge of IHIT, said on Monday: “One of the consistent challenges faced by IHIT and Canadian law enforcement in general are the attempts by individuals to evade justice by fleeing to foreign countries. Through ongoing partnerships in Canada and around the world, IHIT applies the integrated policing philosophy on an international scale.
“This arrest came about as a result of efforts and collaboration on the part of multiple domestic and foreign partner Agencies and is a testament to the commitment of all agencies to bring this subject to trial. IHIT is now committed to supporting Crown Counsel and the trial process.”
A/Chief Supt. Kevin Hackett, Chief Officer for the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia, said: “As a result of the tremendous cooperation between IHIT, CFSEU-BC, Mexican authorities, and others, we were able to track down and arrest one of Canada’s most wanted men who had managed to elude us for four years.
“This arrest is attributed to the excellent collaboration and partnership that we enjoy with our international law enforcement partners. It is further testimony to the commitment and dedication that officers from British Columbia have to the victims and families of gang violence.”
IN July 2013, there were five guilty pleas for conspiracy to murder the Bacon brothers – Jonathan David Bacon, James Kyle Bacon and Jarrod Wayne Bacon – and their associates. Convicted were Yong Sung John Lee, Dilun Heng, Barzan Tilli-Choli, Karwan Ahmet Saed and Ion Kroitoru, all members of the notorious UN gang and their associates. Charges of first degree murder were approved at a later date in connection with the killing of Jonathan Barber.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Janice Dillon accepted a joint Crown-defence agreement for sentences between 11 and 14 years for the convicted men.
Jonathan Bacon was gunned down in Kelowna in August 2011 and the other two brothers are behind bars.
In April 2013, Dan Russell plead guilty to conspiracy to murder the Bacon Brothers and associates as well as manslaughter in connection with the murder of Jonathan Barber. He was sentenced to 12 years.
During the time of the conspiracy, from January 1, 2008 until February 16, 2009, police stopped at least two murders and attempted murders from occurring.
Police said back then: “As the statement of fact shows, these individuals were intent on doing harm and it didn’t matter to them where that might occur—at a local tanning salon, restaurant or in the City of Montreal at a Ultimate Fighting Championship event.”