A Romanian princess and her husband were arrested in Oregon on Thursday for involvement in a cockfighting ring, CNN reported.
Princess Irina Walker, the third daughter of Romania's exiled King Michael I, and her husband John Wesley Walker, former sheriff deputy of Coos County, are allegedly part of a group of people that operated an illegal gambling business.
A total of 18 people have been charged with conspiracy to violate the federal Animal Welfare Act by hosting unlawful fighting on 10 occasions, according to a statement released by the Justice Department. Charged with the Walkers were neighbors David Sanchez, 29, and Aurelia Garcia Mendoza, 33, and Hermiston friends Mario "El Cuba" Perez, 62, and Jose Luis Virgen Ramirez, 48.
Arrests were made across various locations in Washington and Oregon. The indictment states that the Walkers are from Irrigon, Oregon and operated the fights near their ranch between April 2012 to May 2013.
Knives, gaffs, and other cutting instruments were attached to the legs of roosters before they fought to death. Prosecutors say that a referee managed the fights and that beer and food were sold, where concessionaries received 10 percent of the profit. Cockfighting rings are illegal in all 50 states.
"Besides being a barbaric practice, cockfighting jeopardizes public health and safety and facilitates the commission of other criminal acts," said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall.
Marshall also said the "fairly large-scale cockfighting venture" allowed for illegal gambling, too.
In addition to the others arrested in Oregon, the Walkers are scheduled for arraignment on Friday in Portland. John Walker, 67, married Irina Walker (formerly Kreuger), 60, in 2007. She has not been an active member of the royal family and has only visited Romania a few times. The charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
It's not known if the Walkers have a legal representation.
