History Main / CriminalConvention

* In ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' #14: "The Collectors", a convention of {{serial killer}}s and mass murderers congregate to share stories and conversation. Here, rogue nightmare and serial killer the Corinthian is found attending the convention, having been an inspiration to many of the serial killers attending. The various attendants go by code-names, the convention called a "[[{{Pun}} Cereal]] Convention" as to not draw attention to themselves. The convention comes to an end when the eponymous sandman Dream is called there by one of their victims and then proceeds to destroy the Corinthian and show the conventioneers how petty and meaningless they truly are.

* On November 14, 1957, the Apalachin Meeting was a historic summit of the [[UsefulNotes/TheMafia American Mafia]] held at the home of mobster Joseph "The Barber" Barbara in the New York village of Apalachin, outside Binghamton. It was set up by Vito Genovese, Charles "Lucky" Luciano's former NumberTwo, to settle mob disputes and assert his authority as [[KingOfThieves Chairman of the Mafia Commission]]. Around 100 mobsters attended the meeting, but it turned into a huge debacle when a curious cop got wind of it, became suspicious of the expensive cars bearing out-of-state plates that were parked on the ranch, and sent in reinforcements. Many mafiosi eluded capture, but more than 60 of them were caught, including Genovese himself. Despite the arrests of the attendees, all of the convictions were overturned on appeal because there was no evidence that they had actually done anything illegal before the meeting was broken up. Even then, the fallout was disastrous as it exposed the Mafia to open scrutiny for the first time and forced them to hold future Commission meetings in undisclosed locations. J. Edgar Hoover had always strenuously denied that there was any kind of national criminal conspiracy, but after Apalachin, he dedicated FBI resources to the Mafia specifically.

* While three different superheroes (ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}, ComicBook/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}) were after him, ComicBook/ThePunisher once massacred a meeting of just about every sample of American organized crime (biker gangs, triads, Russians, and Mafia) who were holding an auction of [[spoiler:a captive [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]]]]. Frank lures the heroes into a position where they're the first thing [[spoiler:Bruce sees when he [[HulkingOut Hulks out]].]]
* ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'': In order to draw Frank out of hiding, Barracuda secretly organizes a meeting of organized crime honchoes (or rather the promoted {{mooks}} after Frank's repeated hits) in a high-rise building. He even rigged three entire floors with explosives to make sure no one escaped.

* The opening scene of ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'' has James Bond infiltrating an ArmsFair run by terrorists.
-->''"It's like a terrorist supermarket. Chinese Long March Scud, Panther AS-565 attack helicopter... a pair of Russian mortars, and the crates look like American rifles. Chilean mines, German explosives, fun for the whole family."''
* The ''ANNUAL TRANSYLVANIA CONVENTION'' from ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' might count, as the guests are all alien agents from the galaxy of Transylvania. The only one we see do anything bad is the host, Dr. Frank N. Furter, who murders out of jealousy and turns people into statues.

* ''Series/{{The Sandman|2022}}'': Several episodes in the latter half of the first season feature the "Cereal Convention", a trade fair that's actually a disguised gathering of serial killers. The whole thing is run very professionally, with strict rules about not doing any killing in the vicinity of the convention to avoid attracting notice (although the convention committee decide to stretch a point when they learn that one of the attendees is an undercover reporter).
* In the ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0NgUhEs1R4 World's Most Evil Invention]]", a convention is held for {{Mad Scientist}}s to show off their most evil invention that they plan on terrorizing the world with. One such scientist -- Roy (played by Wrestling/DwayneJohnson) -- invents Robochomo, a cheap and easy to manufacture robot designed to molest children. While the villains all agree that it is the most evil thing they have ever head of, [[EvenEvilHasStandards they are all more horrified and disgusted than impressed]].
* while smaller in scale and more local, the New Day Co-Op in ''Series/TheWire'' is a very formal gathering of major Baltimore drug dealers that meets in a rented hotel conference room and follows Roberts' Rules of Order, however not including [[MemeticMutation taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* One arc of ''Webcomic/UmlautHouse'' had the main characters, half of them Mad Scientists and one of the others a secret agent, going to [[http://maskedretriever.com/uh/d/20020806.html Evil Con 2021]].

* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': {{Discussed|Trope}} in the ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}[=/=]Franchise/{{Batman}}'' review, when Linkara mocks the plot point that random low-level drug dealers are somehow doing business with agents of a foreign dictatorship:
-->'''Linkara''': Oh yeah, I'm sure impoverished drug dealers do trades like this all the time with former dictators. They meet at the Evil People Conventions and exchange business cards.

* The [[TheCaper Heist]]-Con in the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS4E3OneCrewOverTheCrewcoosMorty One Crew Over The Crewcoo's Morty]]". [[EvilIsPetty Because of Rick's disdain for the genre]], he hypnotizes the patrons to destroy it.
* The Derby in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' is a high-stakes poker game played by the local crime lords, in a tradition that was old even in [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Bruce's time]].

* On November 14, 1957, the Apalachin Meeting was a historic summit of the [[UsefulNotes/TheMafia American Mafia]] held at the home of mobster Joseph "The Barber" Barbara in the New York village of Apalachin, outside Binghamton. It was set up by Vito Genovese, Charles "Lucky" Luciano's former NumberTwo, to settle mob disputes and assert his authority as [[KingOfThieves Chairman of the Mafia Commission]]. Around 100 mobsters attended the meeting, but it turned into a huge debacle when a curious cop got wind of it and sent in reinforcements. Many mafiosi eluded capture, but more than 60 of them were caught, including Genovese himself. Despite the arrests of the attendees, all of the convictions were overturned on appeal because there was no evidence that they had actually done anything illegal before the meeting was broken up. Even then, the fallout was disastrous as it exposed the Mafia to open scrutiny for the first time and forced them to hold future Commission meetings in undisclosed locations. J. Edgar Hoover had always strenuously denied that there was any kind of national criminal conspiracy, but after Apalachin, he dedicated FBI resources to the Mafia specifically.

** The 1929 Atlantic City Conference, in which mob bosses such as Lucky Luciano and UsefulNotes/AlCapone, along with the Jewish Mafia and the Irish Mob, discussed the eventual repeal of Prohibition, plans for setting up a multi-ethnic [[TheSyndicate National Crime Syndicate]], ending the violent bootleg wars between various gangs over the booze rackets, and dealing with the Mustache Petes, the old timers who despised and rejected the American customs younger mafiosi readily accepted.

{{Fan Convention}}s are where fans flock to. Criminal Conventions attract criminals. Here you can find all that you need for your everyday criminal activities. Galleries presenting new top of the line stabbing knives, [[ThoseWackyNazis vendors selling fashionable leather lampshades]], [[TheyWouldCutYouUp vivisection demonstrations]], [[YouAreNotAlone friends who understand just where you're coming from]] and guest starring UsefulNotes/CharlesManson and [[ImAHumanitarian Jeffrey Dahmer]]! Contestants of the MadScienceFair get a free admission. No cops are welcome.

* Since 1974 Chicago has played host to [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Players_Ball The Players’ Ball]], an annual gathering of pimps from across the country.

{{Fan Convention}}s are where fans flock to. Criminal Conventions attract criminals. Here you can find all that you need for your everyday criminal activities. Galleries presenting new top of the line [[KnifeNut stabbing knives]], [[ThoseWackyNazis vendors selling fashionable leather lampshades]], [[TheyWouldCutYouUp vivisection demonstrations]], [[YouAreNotAlone friends who understand just where you're coming from]] and guest starring UsefulNotes/CharlesManson and [[ImAHumanitarian Jeffrey Dahmer]]! Contestants of the MadScienceFair get a free admission. No cops are welcome.

* In ''ComicBook/TheSandman #14: The Collectors'', a convention of {{serial killer}}s and mass murderers congregate to share stories and conversation. Here, rogue nightmare and serial killer the Corinthian is found attending the convention, having been an inspiration to many of the serial killers attending. The various attendants go by code-names, the convention called a "[[{{Pun}} Cereal]] Convention" as to not draw attention to themselves. The convention comes to an end when the eponymous sandman Dream is called there by one of their victims and then proceeds to destroy the Corinthian and show the conventioneers how petty and meaningless they truly are.