Federal indictment against members of the Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (KMIZ)

Seven people, including the leader and several members of an alleged motorcycle gang, were indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday, according to a Justice Department press release on Friday.

The following persons were charged in an indictment containing 25 counts:

• Tonka Way Con Ponder, 53, of Preston;
• Carolynn L. Ponder, 47, of Preston;
• Tretch Lucius Lawrence, 48;
• Keith Dewayne Nolen Jr. 34;
• Paul Leon Gardner, 52;
• Daniel Scot Kurtzenborn, 41;
• Robert Russell Warren, 54.

The press release said Tonka Ponder, Lawrence, Nolen and Kurtzeborn are in federal custody and will have a hearing on Tuesday. Gardner and Carolynn Ponder were released on bail.

The press release states that Tonka Ponder is the leader of the Camdenton chapter of the Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club. The indictment states that members “committed acts of violence, including assault, attempted robbery and extortion.”

Tonka Ponder, Lawrence, Shankle, Nolen, Kurtzeborn and Gardner are charged with committing a violent crime in aid of criminal racketeering after allegedly attacking someone with a weapon on Dec. 12, 2020, the release said.

The indictment also states that Tonka Ponder, Lawrence, Nolen and Kurtzeborn conspired to attack members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club and the Iron Celtics Motorcycle Association on July 15, 2021. Kurtzeborn is accused of shooting someone that same night, while Tonka Ponder is accused of shooting two people at that time, the press release said.

Tonka Ponder and Lawrence are also charged with attempted extortion of the Iron Celtics Motorcycle Association from July 1, 2020, to July 15, 2021. Tonka Ponder and Carolynn Ponder are additionally charged with selling meth in Camden and Miller counties from August 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022. Both Ponders are also charged with using cell phones to facilitate drug trafficking.

Kurtzeborn and Nolen were charged with illegal possession of weapons.