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- At least 118 eagles killed by trafficking ring, prosecutors say (newsbreak.com)
In Billings, Montana, court records have uncovered a criminal operation involving the trafficking of eagle parts on the black market, allegedly masterminded by Travis John Branson. Branson, from Cusick, Washington, reportedly earned between $180,000 and $360,000 from the illegal sales of bald and golden eagle parts between 2009 and 2021. Prosecutors have documented his participation in the criminal ring which operated across the western United States, including the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana.
Authorities have accused Branson of annihilating at least 118 eagles, sometimes killing as many as nine at once, and dismembering them to sell their parts such as wings, tails, and feathers—items in demand for use in Native American ceremonies. With his sentencing scheduled for September 18 in federal court, federal prosecutors are pushing for a heavy prison sentence and a restitution fee of $777,250.
Amid these proceedings, Branson’s attorney has contested the severity of the allegations, declaring the estimated number of birds killed as exaggerated. This assertion largely stems from differing statements by co-defendant Simon Paul, who initially claimed up to 3,600 birds were killed, then revised the figure down to 1,000. Currently a fugitive in Canada, Paul’s shifting accounts and absence have further complicated the case.
The defense argues that since the indictment did not cover the hawk killings—another 107 birds Branson is associated with—the restitution for these should not be pursued. Branson’s lawyer has requested probation, emphasizing Branson’s clean prior criminal record.
Legal protections place bald and golden eagles, viewed as sacred by many Native American cultures, among the species federally prohibited from being harmed or trafficked without specific permits. Unauthorized killings often through shooting are a prominent cause of death for these raptors in the wild. As such, legitimate avenues for acquiring eagle parts exist through entities like the National Eagle Repository, although backlogs can extend for years.
Branson’s guilty plea in March to charges of conspiracy, wildlife trafficking, and trafficking federally protected birds could see him face up to five years in prison, with federal sentencing guidelines suggesting he could serve three to four years. Additional charges may be dismissed under a plea agreement proposed by prosecutors.
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- At least 118 eagles killed by trafficking ring, prosecutors say (newsbreak.com)