West Virginia - CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An Ohio construction worker admitted in federal court Thursday that he helped members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club shut down a support club for being disloyal.
Steve Harlan "Creature" Stover, 50, of Proctorville, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering.
Stover, one of 55 defendants named in an indictment unsealed last month, is the eighth defendant to strike a plea deal with federal prosecutors. The sweeping, 44-count indictment accuses Pagans members and associates of using violence and intimidation to control territory from New Jersey to Florida.
In November 2004, Stover was a member of the Last Rebels Motorcycle Club, which was affiliated with the Pagans, according to a stipulation of facts entered as part of his guilty plea. Last Rebels wore a "16" patch on their colors, or sleeveless jean jackets, which referred to P being the 16th letter of the alphabet, and symbolized their loyalty to the Pagans.
Under orders from the Pagans, Stover and other Last Rebels traveled with Pagans to the clubhouse of the Road Disciples Motorcycle Club in Portsmouth, Ohio, the stipulation states.
"Stover was told that the [Road Disciples] had failed to fulfill its support club duties and thus the [Pagans] determined that the [Road Disciples] were subject to punishment, including not allowing them to continue as a club in the Pagan Nation," the stipulation reads.
A group, some carrying weapons, traveled from various locations in West Virginia, including Huntington, to Portsmouth, where they confronted the president of the Road Disciples, according to the stipulation.
Believing he would be hurt if he didn't turn over the Road Disciples' "16" patches, the president acquiesced to the visitors' demands, the stipulation states. Later that night, part of the group went back to the Road Disciples' headquarters and took their colors and closed the clubhouse.
Stover faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston on March 8.
Other defendants have admitted to funneling the proceeds of illegal motorcycle raffles (for non-existent bikes, according to prosecutors), helping to stockpile explosives as part of an ongoing feud with the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club, intimidating other motorcycle clubs, extortion and dealing drugs.
Several Pagans, including national president David K. "Bart" Barbeito, 49, of Myersville, Md., and vice president Floyd B. "Diamond Jesse" Moore, 64, of St. Albans, face federal racketeering charges.
Other counts accuse gang members and associates of kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder for allegedly conspiring to kill an incarcerated member of the Pagans whom they believed was cooperating with law enforcement.
Another defendant, Charles H. "Tombstone Charlie" Nichols, 57, of Roanoke, Va., died last month while in custody at the South Central Regional Jail. Authorities said Nichols died from complications of previous medical conditions.
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