Man who killed 118 eagles in years-long wildlife trafficking ring set for sentencing

A sentencing date has been set for man accused of slaughtering more than 3,600 birds, including more than 118 protected eagles, during a years-long wildlife trafficking ring out West, new court documents show.

Travis John Branson, 48, pleaded guilty in March to charges including conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and trafficking bald and golden eagles, in federal court in Montana.

According to a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday, Branson and his “crew” killed eagles and then sold them across the country for profit on the black market.

“It was not uncommon for Branson to take upwards of nine eagles at a time,” prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana wrote the filing. “Not only did Branson kill eagles, but he hacked them into pieces to sell for future profits.”

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Branson estimated to make $360,000 on black market from 2009 to 2021

According to the court filling, prosecutors say Branson, of Washington state, sought to profit by shooting, killing, and selling eagles for years.

An investigation found Branson, and Simon Paul, of St. Ignatius, Montana, killed the birds - a crime "documented in Branson's own text messages," court papers show.

The co-defendants', court papers show, grew up in the Flathead Reservation area. After they were indicted in the case, Paul fled to Canada to evade justice.

During a review of Branson’s phone, agents recovered multiple photographs of Branson sending feathers and parts from eagles he recently killed.

In text messages between him and Paul, Branson revealed that he "was specifically looking to shoot a baby eagle," prosecutors said. The messages from Branson also showed he had "zero remorse for killing eagles," and possibly "enjoyed and bragged about the number of eagles he killed."

Branson is estimated to have made between $180,000 and $360,000 in 2009 through 2021, making $15,000 to $30,000 each year.

The two men possibly killed around 3,600 birds over an extended amount of time, Paul previously told law enforcement.

"Branson’s killings are an affront to one of our nation’s most prized symbols," prosecutors wrote in the court filing. "His sentence should reflect the seriousness of those offenses."

The men went on "a killing spree"

"Branson did this despite knowing full well that his actions were wrong," court papers read. "When negotiating purchase prices of eagle feathers with a potential buyer, Branson repeatedly acknowledged his conduct was criminal: He told another potential buyer he would obtain other eagle tails by “going on a killing spree.”

Prosecutors are asking the judge to sentence him to “significant imprisonment” and pay $777,250 in restitution −$5,000 for every dead eagle and $1,750 for each of more than 100 hawks investigators say Branson and his co-conspirators killed.

Had Branson gone to trial and been convicted, he would have faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the most serious charge, conspiracy. Under a plea deal made in February, prosecutors agreed to dismiss an additional trafficking charges.

Branson is set to be sentenced before Judge Dana L. Christensen on Sept. 18.

Co-defendant remains at large

An arrest warrant was issued in January for Paul after he failed to appear for a scheduled court date.

As of Thursday, he remained at large.

Paul is charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and one count of violation the Lacey Act, a law that bans the trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish, or plants.

Why is selling and trafficking eagles illegal?

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which was enacted in 1940, made it illegal to "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," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

First-time offenders who violate the act can face one or both of the following, according to the agency:

• $100,000 fine, which increases to $200,000 for organizations
• Imprisonment for one year

"Penalties increase substantially for additional offenses, and a second violation of this Act is a felony," stated the FWS.

Contributing: James Powel

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.