(TheRedAlertNews.com) – A Washington state man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for being part of a wildlife trafficking ring that killed thousands of eagles and hawks on Native American land.
Ringleader Travis John Branson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wildlife trafficking charges for his part in killing at least 3,600 birds, including 118 eagles and 107 hawks, on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana.
U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich stated, “[Branson’s] lack of respect for the sanctity of these protected birds was driven by only one thing: greed.” The birds were butchered and their parts sold on the black market for profit.
The scale of this operation is staggering. Prosecutors revealed that Branson had been involved in killing birds since the 1980s. He even killed dozens in a single weekend.
The trafficking ring had been operating since 2009, killing 300 to 400 birds each year.
During Branson’s sentencing, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen said, “If you had not been caught you’d still be doing it today.”
The judge ordered Branson to pay $777,250 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The impact of Branson’s crime goes beyond just numbers. Bald eagles, the U.S. national symbol of freedom and strength, were among the victims.
Juvenile golden eagles were killed for their black and white feathers, which are highly desired in Native American ceremonies.
“The bald eagle, adopted as America’s national symbol in 1782, represents our country’s core ideals of freedom, strength, and justice,” Laslovich stated.
Bald eagles nearly became extinct but their population recovered thanks to conservation efforts and federal laws protecting them.
Despite this, “Branson went on self-described ‘killing sprees’ for thousands of eagles and hawks, butchered them, and sold the parts and feathers for profit on the black market,” Laslovich added.
“With today’s sentence, the cost to Branson was more than a bunch of bullets – he forfeited the very freedom the bald eagle symbolizes,” the attorney concluded.
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