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Two men have been indicted by a federal jury after a ‘killing spree’ in Montana that spanned several years, during which they are alleged to have illegally killed approximately 3,600 birds including bald eagles and golden eagles.
In addition to standing accused of having wantonly murdered our national bird, the two men are accused to illegally selling the eagles on the black market across the United States.
The DailyMontanan published a copy of the indictment from the US Attorney’s Office, and in it they reveal text messages recovered from the accused. Simon Paul, 42, of Montana and Travis John Branson, 48, of Washington are facing 36 years in prison for their crimes and the text messages are damning.
In one of the recovered text messages, Travis John Branson is alleged to have texted others saying “Out here committing felonies” and telling potential black market buyers that he was on a “killing spree.”
In the next portion of the indictment, Simon Paul and Travis Branson are said to have “killed approximately 3,6000 birds, including eagles” on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. It goes on to say they then illegally sold the eagles on the black market for “significant sums of cash” across the country.
A report from the Associated Press says the ‘killing spree’ text was in reference to gathering eagle tail feathers that were to be sold later. That same report also identifies Branson as the ‘shooter’ in the party.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 is pretty ironclad to protect our national bird. You cannot even keep a bald eagle or golden eagle feather if you find it in the woods.
The second line of the act says ‘The Act provides criminal penalties for persons who “take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle … [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part (including feathers), nest, or egg thereof.”‘
Frankly, it’s a surprise these two are only facing 36 years in prison with how serious our nation is about protecting bald eagles.