BILLINGS, Mont. — A man from Washington state is set to be sentenced by a federal court following his guilty plea over the killing of at least 118 eagles, a part of a larger wildlife trafficking operation that took place on a Native American Reservation in Montana. His sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

The illegal trafficking network capitalized on the significant demand for eagle feathers and parts, particularly among tribal community members who hold these items in high regard for use in powwows and other cultural rituals. Authorities revealed that the poaching operation spanned several years and was primarily located on the Flathead Indian Reservation. In addition to the eagles, the man and his associates killed at least 107 hawks and potentially up to 3,600 birds of various species, according to prosecutors.

Travis John Branson, hailing from Cusick, Washington, entered a guilty plea in March on charges of conspiracy and wildlife trafficking. In the context of this case, another individual has been indicted, and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicated that there are additional accomplices involved. Prosecutors are urging U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen, based in Missoula, to impose a “significant” prison term along with restitution exceeding $750,000, which they claim breaks down to $5,000 for each eagle killed and $1,750 for each hawk.

Branson could potentially face a maximum sentence of five years for the conspiracy charge. His public defender has advocated for probation instead, raising concerns that prosecutors may have exaggerated the extent of the bird killings. The defense attorney also challenged the proposed restitution, arguing that the figures are excessively high regarding the eagles and that the hawks should not be included in the restitution calculation at all. According to the defense, Branson has no prior criminal record and lost his job as a maintenance supervisor for the Kalispell Tribe in Washington due to the charges. It’s also noted that Branson suffered a stroke in April.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges posed by a thriving black market for eagle feathers, despite significant law enforcement efforts over recent years that have resulted in numerous indictments throughout the Western and Midwestern United States. Although the bald eagle population has recovered due to conservation efforts, leading to their improved status, the golden eagle’s recovery remains more precarious, with studies indicating possible declines attributed to shootings, poisonings, and other hazards.

The sale or purchase of eagle feathers is strictly prohibited by law. In response to the high demand from Native Americans for eagle feathers, the government attempts to provide them for free from a national repository; however, they struggle to meet the overwhelming need, resulting in a significant backlog. Branson reportedly earned between $180,000 to $360,000 through illegal sales of bald and golden eagle parts from 2009 to 2021, as revealed in court documentation.

In one indication of the operation’s nature, court records cite a January 2021 message where Branson expressed his intent to go on a “killing spree” to gather eagle tails. Prosecutors noted in court filings that it was not unusual for him to take as many as nine eagles in a single incident and that he would systematically dismember them to maximize profit from future sales.

Another defendant, Simon Paul, from St. Ignatius, Montana, is currently at large. An arrest warrant was issued for him by a federal judge in December after he failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing, with indications suggesting he may have fled to Canada. Federally recognized tribes have the option to apply for permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take a bald or golden eagle for religious use. Enrolled tribal members can also request feathers and bird parts from the National Eagle Repository located in Colorado, as well as from recognized non-government repositories in Oklahoma and Arizona.