B.C. gang conflict: Conor D’Monte sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy to commit murder

Conor D'Monte is shown in this undated police handout photo from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia.

A notorious figure in B.C.’s gang conflict who avoided capture for more than a decade has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Conor D’Monte was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in January 2011, but he fled Canada before he could be arrested.

On Wednesday, he appeared in B.C. Supreme Court for sentencing on the conspiracy charge, according to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C., the province’s anti-gang police task force.

The murder charge was stayed.

The charges against D’Monte stemmed from one of the most violent periods of organized crime in B.C.’s history. Between 2008 and 2009, the Red Scorpions and United Nations gangs “engaged in a series of deadly shootings and public gun battles that endangered communities across the Lower Mainland,” the CFSEU said in a news release announcing D’Monte’s sentence.

D’Monte was one of the people accused of killing Red Scorpions member Kevin LeClair, who was shot in broad daylight at a strip mall in Langley in February 2009. He was also accused of conspiring to murder the three Bacon brothers and their associates.

After fleeing the country, D’Monte avoided capture for 11 years.

He was arrested in Puerto Rico in February 2022 and extradited back to Canada in March 2024. He has been in custody ever since.

“This sentence reflects the serious and calculated nature of the violence that occurred during one of the most turbulent periods of gang conflict in British Columbia’s history,” said Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha, in the release.

“The actions of those involved put countless lives at risk and contributed to significant harm in our communities. This outcome is the result of years of dedicated investigative work and strong collaboration between CFSEU-BC, (the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team), and our policing partners. We remain committed to holding organized crime members accountable and ensuring the safety of the public.”

The CFSEU highlighted seven other UN gang members who have been charged and convicted for their actions during the period in question.

Barzan Tilli-Choli, Karwan Raquib (formerly known as Karwan Saed), Dilun Heng, Ion Kroitoru and Amir Eghtesad were all convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. Aram Ali was convicted of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent, and Cory Vallee was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.