Irina and John Wesley Walker have been running illegal gambling derbies on their ranch

Aug 17, 2013 05:40 GMT  ·  By
Irina and John Wesley Walker have been running illegal gambling operation: she’s a Romanian Princess
   Irina and John Wesley Walker have been running illegal gambling operation: she’s a Romanian Princess

Irina Walker, the third daughter of King Michael I, the last King of Romania, has been arrested on charges of running an illegal gambling operation on her Oregon ranch. Five other people are also in custody.

Among them is also Walker’s husband, John Wesley Walker, CNN reports.

Irina, 60 and John Wesley Walker, 67 (pictured in the photo attached to this article), stand accused of running cockfighting derbies and illegal gambling on their property, authorities say in a statement cited by the aforementioned publication.

“John Wesley Walker and his wife, Princess Irina Walker, the third daughter of Romania's exiled King Michael I, are among six people charged with operating an illegal gambling business, the Justice Department said in a statement,” CNN writes.

“Those six are also charged, along with 12 others, with conspiracy to violate the animal Welfare Act by conducting unlawful animal fighting ventures on 10 occasions, the statement said,” it adds.

“The arrests took place Thursday across various sites in Oregon and Washington. The Walkers are from Irrigon, in Morrow County, Oregon, according to the indictment,” the report further says.

CNN doesn’t say whether the Walkers were released on bail after the arrest or whether they would remain in custody until the arraignment, which will take place in Portland.

“Each of the offenses carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 [€187,462], according to the Justice Department. It was unclear whether the couple has a lawyer,” CNN says.

The Daily Mail has a few more details about the case, reporting that the cockfights also came with an entrance fee, which did not include beverages and food.

Admittedly, blades were attached to the birds’ legs to make the spectacle more interesting.

Mr. Walker was a Coos County sheriff’s deputy between 1998 and 2003.