What Happened to Clayton Roueche?
- staysafevancouver
- Aug 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 22
On May 19, 2008, Clayton Roueche boarded a flight home to Vancouver.
He never made it.
The plane was diverted to Dallas, Texas, where U.S. federal agents were waiting. Roueche, the founder of the United Nations gang, was taken into custody on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.
In his plea agreement, Roueche admitted that from 2005 onward he conspired to import marijuana into the United States, export cocaine into Canada, and launder drug proceeds.
This is the documented record of how Roueche built the gang, the events that led to his arrest, and where he is now.
What Happened to Clayton Roueche?
Background and Gang Formation
Clayton Franklin Roueche was born on May 31, 1975, in Chilliwack, British Columbia. He grew up in an upper-middle-class family that owned a scrapyard and recycling business.
By the mid-1990s, he was spending time in Abbotsford’s Vietnamese community, building connections that would later shape the membership of his gang.
In 1997, Roueche and a group of friends from the Fraser Valley formed what became the United Nations gang. The name came from a party in Richmond, where the mix of ethnic backgrounds prompted someone to call it “a United Nations meeting.”
The Hells Angels have been widely reported as predominantly white, and former leaders have acknowledged the absence of Black members in many U.S. chapters historically, but membership practices vary by chapter.
From the start, Roueche set a different tone. Members were expected to adopt the motto “Honor, Loyalty, Respect,” often tattooed in Chinese characters, and to train in martial arts.
The gang’s early operations focused on growing and exporting high-grade B.C. Bud marijuana to the United States, trading it for cocaine to bring back into Canada.
By the early 2000s, the UN gang had built cross-border smuggling routes using trucks, planes, and helicopters, making millions in annual profit.
These operations and Roueche’s leadership style positioned the gang as a major competitor to established groups in the Lower Mainland.
Expansion and Alliances
Cross-border pipeline - By the early 2000s, the UN gang was exporting high-grade B.C. Bud to the United States and trading for cocaine coming north.
Clayton Roueche Sentencing: U.S. officials later outlined the conduct in court when Roueche was sentenced on conspiracy to import marijuana, export cocaine, and money laundering.
Sinaloa connection - Roueche used Ahmed “Lou” Kaawach as a liaison in Guadalajara to negotiate exchanges with the Sinaloa Cartel. On 12 July 2008, Kaawach and Elliot “Taco” Castañeda were shot dead in Guadalajara. The alliance and the killings are documented in the UN gang history.
FOB Killers alliance - Starting in 2006, Roueche met with Calgary’s Fresh Off the Boat Killers. Police surveillance indicated FK worked with the UN and benefited from access to cocaine supply lines and UN oversight. Later testimony described FK members as the “surgical” team for more precise violent acts.
Methods and scale - Sources describing the operation detail trucks, planes, and especially helicopters to move bulk marijuana across the border after 2001. The UN gang’s cross-border smuggling routes and expansion strategy are summarized in the UN gang record.
UN Gang Leader Arrest & Prosecution
May 19, 2008 - Roueche was denied entry to Mexico, placed on a flight to Vancouver, and the plane was diverted to Dallas. U.S. agents arrested him on a Western District of Washington warrant.
April 2009 - He entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to import marijuana into the United States, conspiracy to export cocaine into Canada, and conspiracy to launder money. The signed plea agreement in case CR07-344 RSL is on record.
December 16, 2009 - A federal judge in Seattle sentenced Roueche to 30 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release. The U.S. Department of Justice release details the counts and the court’s remarks.
February 15, 2011 - After a Ninth Circuit remand for resentencing procedure, the district court again imposed 30 years. The DOJ noted this was a second hearing with the same outcome.
Where is He Now?
Clayton Roueche is serving his sentence at FCI Edgefield, a medium-security federal prison in South Carolina. According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons inmate locator, his projected release date is November 25, 2027.
Since his incarceration, Roueche has sold Asian-themed paintings from his cell, using a Facebook profile to promote and arrange sales. He has also filed legal challenges seeking to reduce his sentence, though none have resulted in early release.
Want to learn more? Explore our entire BC Gangsters list here.
Otherwise, jump to the gang of your liking here:
BC Gangsters List:
Still Have Questions About Clayton Roueche?
How did the United Nations gang get its name?
The name came from a party in Richmond, B.C., where the diverse mix of people led someone to call it a “United Nations meeting.” The label stuck and became the gang’s official identity.
What crimes led to Roueche’s conviction?
He pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to conspiring to import marijuana, export cocaine, and launder money. His network moved B.C. Bud into the U.S. and brought cocaine back into Canada.
When and where was he arrested?
On May 19, 2008, Roueche was denied entry to Mexico, placed on a flight bound for Vancouver, and intercepted in Dallas, Texas, by U.S. agents acting on a federal warrant.
What sentence did he receive?
In December 2009, a federal judge in Seattle sentenced him to 30 years in prison, plus five years of supervised release. The ruling was upheld after a 2011 resentencing hearing.
Where is he now?
As of 2025, Roueche remains in the U.S. federal prison system, with a projected release date of November 25, 2027. He has spent time painting and selling his artwork from prison and has filed legal challenges, though none have shortened his sentence.
What happened to the UN gang after his arrest?
Leadership passed to Barzan Tilli-Choli and later others. The group continued operating but faced pressure from law enforcement and violent conflicts with rivals including the Red Scorpions and Bacon Brothers.
Did he have international cartel connections?
Yes. Roueche relied on Ahmed “Lou” Kaawach in Guadalajara to facilitate exchanges with the Sinaloa Cartel and also developed ties with Calgary’s FK (Fresh Off the Boat Killers) and Asian crime groups in B.C.
What set his leadership style apart?
Unlike older groups such as the Hells Angels, Roueche promoted multicultural membership, martial arts training, and a code of “Honor, Loyalty, Respect,” often tattooed in Chinese characters.
Comments