Bald, golden eagles among thousands of birds killed by 2 men in Montana, indictment says

Two men are accused of killing about 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles, at a reservation in Montana, then selling the eagles on the black market for “significant sums of cash.”

Simon Paul and Travis John Branson each are charged with one count of conspiracy, 13 counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, and one count of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking of unlawfully taken wildlife. The charges are outlined in a federal indictment first published by the Daily Montanan.

The indictment accuses Paul and Branson of going on a self-described “killing spree” at the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana and in other locations. The men were selling the tail feathers and other parts from the eagles, the indictment says.

“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 shows.

Paul is accused of being the “shooter” and “shipper” of bald and golden eagles for Branson. The indictment lists several alleged killings of eagles and the sales of their tails, wings and feathers.

Most of the illegal killing of birds and sale of their feathers and other parts occurred between January 2019 and March 2021, the indictment shows.

NBC News reports Paul and Branson have not been arrested but have been ordered to appear in federal court on Jan. 8.

For The Win reports the conspiracy count is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine for the first conviction, with other convictions punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Conviction for violating the Lacey Act involving wildlife with a market value in excess of $350 is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $20,000 fine.