NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

BETH PHILLIPS

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

www.usdoj.gov../index.html

MAY 17, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWO MOTORCYLE CLUB MEMBERS SENTENCED

FOR METH CONSPIRACY

            KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two members of a local motorcycle club were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

            Eric G. Burkitt, also known as “Little Eric,” 25, and Robert E. Stewart, 53, both of Kansas City, Mo., were each sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. Chief District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan this morning to five years in federal prison without parole.

            Burkitt and Stewart each pleaded guilty on Nov. 25, 2009, to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between Jan. 1, 2002, and July 31, 2007.

            Burkitt and Stewart are members of the El Forastero Motorcycle Club. Both the El Forastero and Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club 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.

            Burkitt and Stewart admitted that, as members of El Forastero, they were required to annually pay dues to the El Forastero Motorcycle Club. The clubs would have parties, hosted by a local club charter, called “runs.” Members of El Forastero were required to go on three runs per year, but could go on more. On each run, the members were required to pay run money that was pooled, or collected, by each club charter, and then forwarded to the specific El Forastero or Galloping Goose charter that hosted the run. The pooled money was used to pay for a party site, food, drink and other entertainment expenses. At some of the runs, the local charter also used a portion of the money to purchase methamphetamine, cocaine, and/or marijuana. Those drugs were maintained in run bags and were available to any of the club members that wanted them.

            Burkitt and Stewart also admitted that they knew a portion of the run money could be used to purchase methamphetamine, cocaine, and/or marijuana, and then be distributed to those club members who wanted them. By these actions, they assisted others in the distribution of those drugs to club members who wanted them.

            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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