INDIANAPOLIS (AP):  A federal judge is accepting a no contest plea from an alleged enforcer for a drug-dealing motorcycle gang to one of the toughest charges against him.

The judge in Indianapolis issued a ruling Tuesday saying that acceptance of the unusual plea from Joshua Bowser will avoid an expensive and time-consuming trial.

Bowser was charged with racketeering when he and dozens of Outlaws Motorcycle Club members were arrested last year in Indiana, including in Fort Wayne, Ohio and Illinois. He's also pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud, illegal gambling and extortion.

The no contest plea is treated as a guilty plea at sentencing, which is set for Thursday.

Prosecutors opposed the no contest plea, saying it would allow defendants to argue that the Outlaws club isn't an organized crime group.