NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

NOVEMBER 25, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWO MOTORCYLE CLUB MEMBERS PLEAD GUILTY

TO METH TRAFFICKING

            KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two members of local motorcycle clubs pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to methamphetamine trafficking.

            John B. Angell, 43, of Kansas City, Kan., and Nicholas E. Donkersloot, 35, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. Chief District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan this morning.

            Angell pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine between Jan. 1, 2002, and July 31, 2007. Donkersloot pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine.

            Angell is a founding member of the Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club charter in Kansas City, Kan.; Donkersloot was a member of the El Forastero Motorcycle Club chartered in Okoboji, Iowa. Both the Galloping Goose and El Forastero clubs have a number of charters throughout the Midwest, and the clubs maintain a close relationship. The Kansas City charters share a common clubhouse in Kansas City, Mo.

            Both Angell and Donkersloot admitted that members of the motorcycle clubs were required to annually pay dues and attend a certain number of motorcycle trips, known as runs, each year. On each run, whether or not the member attended, he was required to pay money that was pooled, or collected by each club charter, then forwarded to the specific Galloping Goose or El Forastero charter that hosted the particular motorcycle run in order to purchase methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. Those drugs were maintained in run bags, which were distributed to all club members that attended the run.

            Angell admitted that, as an active member, he participated in the distribution of between 500 and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine. Donkersloot admitted that, as an active member, he participated in the distribution of between 50 and 200 grams of methamphetamine.

            Under federal statutes, Angell is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $4 million. Donkersloot is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1 million. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Valenti and Daniel M. Nelson. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html