CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Putnam County man admitted in federal court Thursday that he participated in a conspiracy to help protect the national vice president of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, who wouldn't carry a gun because he was a convicted felon.

Donnie Ray "Hoss" Workman, 35, of Buffalo, is the fifth of 55 defendants named in a sweeping, 44-count indictment to plead guilty. In the indictment, unsealed Oct. 6, federal prosecutors accuse the national motorcycle gang's members and associates of using violence and intimidation to control an organized criminal enterprise extending from New Jersey to Florida.

Several alleged members of the gang's governing council, or "Mother Club," including national president David K. "Bart" Barbeito of Myersville, Md., and vice president Floyd B. "Diamond Jesse" Moore of St. Albans, face racketeering charges.

Workman, a union ironworker, was a member of the Charleston chapter of the Pagans, which was part of territory overseen by Moore, according to court filings.

In a stipulation of facts agreed to as part of his plea deal, Workman admitted that he knew that Moore was a convicted felon. In February 2008, Workman heard Moore order Pagans members to get permits to carry concealed weapons, according to the stipulation.

"Mr. Workman and the other PMC members knew that Mr. Moore did not carry a firearm, therefore, they agreed to carry firearms, at least in part, to protect Mr. Moore," the stipulation states.

Several months later, prior to a trip to Virginia, Moore instructed all members with permits to bring their guns, or else face punishment, according to the stipulation.

The indictment says Workman took a handgun safety course on Feb. 2, 2008. He and nine other members allegedly carried guns as they accompanied Moore on a trip to Virginia on June 6, 2008, according to the indictment.

In exchange for his guilty plea, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Loew agreed to dismiss four other charges against Workman.

U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston scheduled Workman's sentencing for March 8. Workman faces up to five years in prison.

One of the 55 defendants, Charles "Tombstone Charlie" Nichols, died last month while in custody at the South Central Regional Jail. Authorities said Nichols died from complications from previous medical conditions.

The allegations against the remaining defendants range from kidnapping and beating a member of the Road Disciples Motorcycle Club in Huntington in 2003, in an attempt to extort money from the smaller club, to conspiring with a prison guard to kill an inmate who was a former Pagan they suspected was providing the government with information.

Moore, Barbeito and several others have been denied bail while they await trial since prosecutors argued that they might retaliate against potential witnesses. Johnston allowed Workman, who had been released on $10,000 unsecured bail, to remain free until his sentencing.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Putnam County man admitted in federal court Thursday that he participated in a conspiracy to help protect the national vice president of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, who wouldn't carry a gun because he was a convicted felon.

Donnie Ray "Hoss" Workman, 35, of Buffalo, is the fifth of 55 defendants named in a sweeping, 44-count indictment to plead guilty. In the indictment, unsealed Oct. 6, federal prosecutors accuse the national motorcycle gang's members and associates of using violence and intimidation to control an organized criminal enterprise extending from New Jersey to Florida.

Several alleged members of the gang's governing council, or "Mother Club," including national president David K. "Bart" Barbeito of Myersville, Md., and vice president Floyd B. "Diamond Jesse" Moore of St. Albans, face racketeering charges.

Workman, a union ironworker, was a member of the Charleston chapter of the Pagans, which was part of territory overseen by Moore, according to court filings.

In a stipulation of facts agreed to as part of his plea deal, Workman admitted that he knew that Moore was a convicted felon. In February 2008, Workman heard Moore order Pagans members to get permits to carry concealed weapons, according to the stipulation.

"Mr. Workman and the other PMC members knew that Mr. Moore did not carry a firearm, therefore, they agreed to carry firearms, at least in part, to protect Mr. Moore," the stipulation states.

Several months later, prior to a trip to Virginia, Moore instructed all members with permits to bring their guns, or else face punishment, according to the stipulation.

The indictment says Workman took a handgun safety course on Feb. 2, 2008. He and nine other members allegedly carried guns as they accompanied Moore on a trip to Virginia on June 6, 2008, according to the indictment.

In exchange for his guilty plea, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Loew agreed to dismiss four other charges against Workman.

U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston scheduled Workman's sentencing for March 8. Workman faces up to five years in prison.

One of the 55 defendants, Charles "Tombstone Charlie" Nichols, died last month while in custody at the South Central Regional Jail. Authorities said Nichols died from complications from previous medical conditions.

The allegations against the remaining defendants range from kidnapping and beating a member of the Road Disciples Motorcycle Club in Huntington in 2003, in an attempt to extort money from the smaller club, to conspiring with a prison guard to kill an inmate who was a former Pagan they suspected was providing the government with information.

Moore, Barbeito and several others have been denied bail while they await trial since prosecutors argued that they might retaliate against potential witnesses. Johnston allowed Workman, who had been released on $10,000 unsecured bail, to remain free until his sentencing.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.