Man Pleads Guilty To Bald Eagle 'Killing Spree'

Travis John Branson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and two counts of trafficking federally protected bald and golden eagles, under a plea deal reached last month with government attorneys.in eagle feathers despite a law enforcement crackdown in the 2010s that netted dozens of criminal indictments across the U.S. West and Midwest. Feathers and other parts of eagles are widely used by Native Americans in ceremonies and during powwows.

Less than two weeks later, law enforcement stopped him on the reservation and found in his vehicle the feet and feathers of a golden eagle he had shot near Polson, Montana, which is on the reservation according to court filings that included a photo of the bird’s severed feet with their massive talons. The bird’s carcass had been “cleaned” by the second defendant, Paul, and was found in a nearby field, prosecutors wrote.

“My hope is that we can see some of those monies because our resources were damaged,” said Rich Janssen, Natural Resources Department Head for the tribes. “And frankly, it was our wardens that did a lot of the legwork that brought this case forward to the federal agencies that finally got the prosecution.”. A federal judge issued an arrest warrant for Paul in December when he did not show up for an initial court hearing.

In another text exchange, Branson was negotiating an eagle feather sale when he allegedly wrote, “I don’t get em for free though....out hear committing felonies,” according to the court filings. Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Man pleads guilty in fatal kidnapping of 2-year-old Michigan girl in 2023GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan man pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping and killing a 2-year-old girl whose disappearance last summer led to a 100-mile (161-kilometer) search that stretched from the state capital to the Detroit area.
Source: BurnabyNOW_News - 🏆 14. / 77 Read more »

Man pleads guilty in fatal kidnapping of 2-year-old Michigan girl in 2023GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan man pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping and killing a 2-year-old girl whose disappearance last summer led to a 100-mile (161-kilometer) search that stretched from the state capital to the Detroit area.
Source: SooToday - 🏆 8. / 85 Read more »

Man accused of killing Toronto police officer pleads not guilty to 1st-degree murderTORONTO — A man accused of killing a Toronto police officer nearly three years ago pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder Monday as jury selection began in his trial. Umar Zameer is charged in the death of Const. Jeffrey Northrup.
Source: SooToday - 🏆 8. / 85 Read more »

B.C. man pleads guilty to assault in strip club encounterA man and woman were having sex behind the No5 Orange strip club in Vancouver.
Source: BurnabyNOW_News - 🏆 14. / 77 Read more »

Man pleads not guilty to charges related to largest wildfire in N.S. historyA Nova Scotia man has pleaded not guilty to three charges in relation to the Barrington Lake wildfire last spring, which forced more than 6,000 people from their homes.
Source: GlobalCalgary - 🏆 50. / 61 Read more »

B.C. man pleads guilty to Metro Vancouver charges, including impersonationRafael Ronny Garcia was charged for alleged offences in Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Burnaby and Surrey.
Source: BurnabyNOW_News - 🏆 14. / 77 Read more »