Two men indicted for selling eagles in 'killing spree' of 3,600 birds

[Leftist Capitalism]

Two men who allegedly killed approximately 3,600 birds, including
bald eagles and golden eagles, face years in prison and fines up to
$250,000 after being indicted by a federal grand jury in Montana.

Simon Paul and Travis John Branson are accused of poaching bald
eagles and golden eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation and
elsewhere from January 2015 to March 2021 and then illegally selling
them on the black market, according to the indictment posted online
by the Daily Montanan.

“During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered messages from
Branson and others describing the illegal taking of eagles by
stating, ‘[O]ut [here] committing felonies,’ and telling buyers he
was ‘on a killing spree’ to obtain eagle tail feathers for future
sales,” the indictment states.

They were indicted on one count of conspiracy (penalty is five years
in prison and a $250,000 fine), 13 counts of unlawful trafficking of
bald and golden eagles (penalty for first offense is one year in
prison and a $5,000 fine, second and subsequent conviction is two
years in prison and a $10,000 fine), and one count of violating the
Lacey Act involving wildlife with a market value in excess of $350
(penalty is five years in prison and a $20,000 fine).

The Lacey Act combats trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish
or plants.

The indictment details the sale of 13 bald eagle and golden eagle
parts or entire birds with the dates each were poached.

“From January 2019 until March 2021, Simon Paul lived near Ronan on
the Flathead Indian Reservation, and he was a ‘shooter’ and
‘shipper’ of bald and golden eagles for Travis John Branson,” the
indictment reads. “When Branson arrived on the Flathead Indian
Reservation, Paul would meet and help kill, transport, and ship bald
and golden eagles for future sales on the black market.”

On March 13, 2021, Brandon and Paul used a “previously killed deer
to lure in eagles,” and shot and killed a golden eagle that day.

“A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of
Montana said they could not comment further on the indictment and
case,” the Daily Montanan reported. “Paul and Branson were issued
summons to appear in court in Missoula on Jan. 8 for arraignments.”

The Daily Montanan reported that a man from Hardin, Montana, was
sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $70,000 in
restitution for killing 14 juvenile eagles after he was indicted in
May 2022. He was found guilty of three violations of the Bald and
Golden Eagle Protection Act.

https://sports.yahoo.com/two-men-indicted-selling-eagles-
141546461.html