U. S. prosecutors have said that two Washington state men pleaded guilty to killing bald and golden eagles and selling their parts in violation of federal law.

Federal prosecutors have said that Alfred L. Hawk Jr. and William R. Wahsise, both 23-year-old Yakama tribe members from White Swan, Wash., could face prison terms and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines when they're sentenced in October.

Tribal members with permits are allowed to have eagle feathers, which some Native Americans view as sacred and use in dances and tribal ceremonies, but not kill eagles or buy or sell their parts.

According to prosecutors, in March 2009, after two years' investigation, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents raided the two men's homes. Agents seized 21 golden eagle tails, 30 golden eagle wings, 31 bald eagle tails and two bald eagle wings from Hawk's home and a handful of golden eagle tails, 22 golden eagle wings and feathers from golden eagles and bald eagles at Wahsise's home.

Hawk pleaded guilty to three felony charges and one misdemeanor, Wahsise to one felony and one misdemeanor.

Prosecutors further added that Hawk and Wahsise used corpses of captured wild horses as bait to attract the bald and golden eagles they killed.

James A. McDevitt, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, said in a statement, "The indiscriminate slaughter of these protected birds is alarming. The black market sale of eagle parts must be stopped at its source." (With Inputs from Agencies)