Current:Home > ContactJudge issues arrest warrant for man accused of killing thousands of bald eagles -WealthGrow Network
Judge issues arrest warrant for man accused of killing thousands of bald eagles
View
Date:2025-04-17 14:54:52
A federal judge issued an arrest warrant this week for a man whose court records show failed to appear for a court appearance on charges he and a co-defendant slaughtered more than 3,600 protected birds, including bald eagles, and sold them on the black market.
Simon Paul, 42, and Travis John Branson, 48, are accused of killing the birds on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana and elsewhere, court documents filed last month in U.S. District Court in Missoula show. Killing the protected wildlife is a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto issued a warrant for Paul, of St. Ignatius, Montana, after he failed to appear for arraignment on Monday, court records obtained by USA TODAY show.
Online records also show Branson, of Cusick, Washington, pleaded not guilty to his respective charges in connection to the case.
Branson was released by the judge, online records show, on conditions including that he reappear for his next court hearing and not commit any further crimes.
See the photos:Aftermath of Sandman Signature Fort Worth Downtown Hotel explosion
A six-year killing period
According to an indictment filed on Dec. 7, the hunters illegally shot the birds and sold parts or all of the eagles between January 2015 and March 2021.
Paul and Branson are charged with violating the Lacey Act, a law that bans the trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish, or plants. The men also face more than a dozen counts of trafficking bald and golden eagles, and one count of conspiracy, court records show.
A Golden Eagle tail, a PayPal purchase and a shipment
According to court papers, in December 2020, Branson sent a text with a picture of a golden eagle tail set to a purchaser and got a PayPal purchase that same day. Two days later, he shipped the set to Texas, and a couple of days later, he received a PayPal payment for it.
Prosecutors said Branson and Paul also allegedly used a dead deer to bait eagles so they could shoot them.
Court papers say Branson also reportedly bragged about going "on a killing spree" and about the "significant sums of cash" the pair made from the sale of the slaughtered birds.
Live updates:Winter storm brings snow, heavy rain and tornado conditions to much of the US
America's national emblem
The national emblem of the United States since 1782, the bald eagle was an endangered species until 2007 after the bird's population began to recover.
Under the Bald Eagle Protection Act, killing the iconic bird is prohibited. The law enacted in 1940 makes it a criminal offense to "take" any part of a bald eagle, which includes killing one.
Contributing: Sarah Al-Arshani.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (2366)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Thousands of Amazon Shoppers Say This 50% Off Folding Makeup Mirror Is a Must-Have
- Medical bills can cause a financial crisis. Here's how to negotiate them
- Wife of Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann files for divorce as woman shares eerie encounter with him
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Get a Tan in 1 Hour and Save 42% On St. Tropez Express Self-Tanning Mousse
- It takes a few dollars and 8 minutes to create a deepfake. And that's only the start
- Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Kevin Maxen becomes first male coach in major U.S. pro league to come out as gay
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Shoppers Praise This Tarte Sculpting Wand for “Taking 10 Years Off” Their Face and It’s 55% Off Right Now
Ranking
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Biden Is Losing His Base on Climate Change, a New Pew Poll Finds. Six in 10 Democrats Don’t Feel He’s Doing Enough
- Twitter says parts of its source code were leaked online
- What happens to the body in extreme heat? Experts explain the heat wave's dangerous impact.
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- After Fukushima, a Fundamental Renewable Energy Shift in Japan Never Happened. Could Global Climate Concerns Bring it Today?
- 6 things to know about heat pumps, a climate solution in a box
- Binance lawsuit, bank failures and oil drilling
Recommendation
SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
Why Kim Kardashian Isn't Ready to Talk to Her Kids About Being Upset With Kanye West
Jimmie Johnson Withdraws From NASCAR Race After Tragic Family Deaths
Oklahoma executes man who stabbed Tulsa woman to death after escaping from prison work center in 1995
In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
Total Accused of Campaign to Play Down Climate Risk From Fossil Fuels
Wife of Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann files for divorce as woman shares eerie encounter with him
Labor's labors lost? A year after stunning victory at Amazon, unions are stalled