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BILLINGS, Mont. — A man implicated in a widespread trafficking operation has admitted to killing over a hundred eagles, selling their parts on the black market, as revealed by court documents. This activity was part of a larger scheme that resulted in the deaths of thousands of birds across the western United States.
Travis John Branson, who hails from Cusick, Washington, is slated for sentencing on September 18 in a federal court for his involvement in this illegal enterprise, which spread over the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana among other locations.
From 2009 to 2021, Branson earned an estimated $180,000 to $360,000 by illegally peddling parts of bald and golden eagles, according to prosecutors. They noted, “Branson would often kill as many as nine eagles at a time,” dismantling them to maximize profit.
The demand for such eagle parts is particularly high among Native Americans, who utilize them for traditional ceremonies.
The prosecution has urged Judge Dana Christensen to deliver a harsh prison sentence and order Branson to pay restitution amounting to $777,250. This includes $5,000 per eagle and $1,750 for each of the 107 hawks also killed by Branson and his accomplices.
Branson’s legal defense has countered these allegations, arguing that the number of birds killed has been exaggerated. They pointed out inconsistencies in the statements of Simon Paul, a co-defendant still at large, which have amplified public outrage. Branson’s attorney, Federal Defender Andrew Nelson, highlighted a decrease in the estimated number of birds killed from 3,600 to 1,000, based on Paul’s admission during a 2021 traffic stop.
Nelson further argued against the proposed restitution for the hawks since they weren’t included in last year’s major indictment, and he has requested probation for Branson, citing his clean prior criminal record.
While Paul has reportedly fled to Canada, the U.S. justice system continues to piece together the full extent of Branson’s involvement through his text messages, although a two-year gap in the data has left some uncertainty.
Branson faced severe legal penalties, including up to five years of incarceration and a $250,000 fine for the chief conspiracy charge under a plea agreement. Federal sentencing guidelines suggest a prison term of three to four years for his crimes.
Bald and golden eagles hold a revered status among many Native American groups, and laws tightly restrict their disturbance without special permits. Illegal harm and dealings in eagles remain a top cause of their mortality, despite legal avenues existing for tribes to acquire necessary bird parts for cultural practices.