In Billings, Montana, a man has been implicated in a wildlife trafficking ring that illegally killed at least 118 eagles for their feathers and body parts, which were then sold on the black market. Travis John Branson, from Cusick, Washington, is set to be sentenced on September 18 for his involvement in the operation, which spanned over 13 years and generated illicit earnings ranging between $180,000 and $360,000.
According to court documents filed by prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana, Branson was known to frequently kill multiple eagles at once and dismember them for profit. The operation, which primarily took place on the Flathead Indian Reservation, also involved the killing of 107 hawks along with the eagles.
Eagle parts such as wings, tails, and feathers are in high demand among Native Americans for ceremonial purposes. Prosecutors are seeking a substantial prison sentence for Branson, along with a restitution payment totaling $777,250, accounting for $5,000 for each eagle and $1,750 for each hawk killed.
Branson’s defense attorney has challenged some of the prosecutors’ claims, particularly disputing the number of birds killed and questioning the need for restitution for the hawks, which were not initially included in the indictment. The defense is advocating for probation for Branson, asserting that the case’s public outrage has been fueled by exaggerated death toll estimates.
The trafficking ring involved Branson and another individual, Simon Paul, who is currently evading authorities in Canada. Messages exchanged by Branson helped investigators document the killings, although some data spanning two years was unrecoverable, leaving gaps in understanding the full extent of the crimes committed. While the focus has been on eagles and hawks, there has been no disclosure of any other bird species being targeted.
Eagles hold significant cultural and spiritual value for many Native American communities, and the illegal killing or disturbance of these birds is prohibited under U.S. law. Illegal shootings are identified as a leading cause of golden eagle fatalities, highlighting the detrimental impact of such activities on protected bird species.
Despite legal avenues for obtaining eagle feathers and parts, including repositories in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Phoenix, there is a considerable backlog in fulfilling requests from federally recognized tribes. Branson pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges related to conspiracy and wildlife trafficking, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy. As part of a plea agreement, some trafficking charges may be dropped by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana.
