Romanian princess Irina Walker and her husband John Wesley Walker have allegedly hosted 10 cockfighting events in their Oregon home between in 2012 and 2013.
Walker, 60, is the daughter of King Michael I, Romania’s last king who was renounced in 1947 by communists and forced into exile and moved to Switzerland. Her husband was formerly a sheriff’s deputy.
According to MSN spectators paid to get into their ranch in Irrigon, Oregon to watch the fights. There were blades attached to the bird’s legs, and the couple made as much as $2,000 a day.
They are both being charged with operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to violate the Federal Animal Welfare Act.
Walker pled guilty to the charges Friday. Her and her husband are among 18 people involved in the cockfighting business that have been charged. If convicted, each charge has a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Walker’s royal family commented about her situation in a statement on their website.
"His Majesty and the royal family hopes the American justice system and Oregon state courts will settle the case in the fairest and fastest way possible," it read, BBC reports. "His Majesty also hopes that the presumption of innocence will function... from the beginning to the end of this unfortunate event."