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Man who killed 118 eagles in years-long wildlife trafficking ring set for sentencing
www.oklahoman.com ^ | September 05, 2024 | Natalie Neysa Alund, Julia Gomez

Posted on 09/06/2024 5:52:57 AM PDT by Red Badger

A sentencing date has been set for man accused of slaughtering more than 3,600 birds, including more than 118 protected eagles, during a years-long wildlife trafficking ring out West, new court documents show.

Travis John Branson, 48, pleaded guilty in March to charges including conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and trafficking bald and golden eagles, in federal court in Montana.

According to a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday, Branson and his “crew” killed eagles and then sold them across the country for profit on the black market.

“It was not uncommon for Branson to take upwards of nine eagles at a time,” prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana wrote the filing. “Not only did Branson kill eagles, but he hacked them into pieces to sell for future profits.”

Branson estimated to make $360,000 on black market from 2009 to 2021

According to the court filling, prosecutors say Branson, of Washington state, sought to profit by shooting, killing, and selling eagles for years.

An investigation found Branson, and Simon Paul, of St. Ignatius, Montana, killed the birds - a crime "documented in Branson's own text messages," court papers show.

The co-defendants', court papers show, grew up in the Flathead Reservation area. After they were indicted in the case, Paul fled to Canada to evade justice.

During a review of Branson’s phone, agents recovered multiple photographs of Branson sending feathers and parts from eagles he recently killed.


TOPICS: History; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Society
KEYWORDS: birdsofprey; branson; canada; feathers; flatheadreservation; indiandance; montana; poachers; poaching; powwows; scumbags; simonpaul; stignatius; talons; travisjohnbranson; wildlife
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To: circlecity

There’s really a market for dead eagle parts?

><

Yes, for the feathers, mostly.


21 posted on 09/06/2024 6:44:12 AM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis This country has strategic interests in mato take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: Red Badger

Sentencing him to be strapped to a rock face & fed alive to eagles would be rather fitting.


22 posted on 09/06/2024 6:44:58 AM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869

23 posted on 09/06/2024 6:46:44 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

Humane euthanasia sounds good.


24 posted on 09/06/2024 6:51:34 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: Red Badger

Primitive vasectomy?
Bring your own Spiced Rum.


25 posted on 09/06/2024 6:57:56 AM PDT by lee martell
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To: lee martell

Prometheus being punished by Zeus for giving ‘fire’ to humanity.

His punishment was to be chained to a rock while an eagle ate his liver which would regenerate forever.................


26 posted on 09/06/2024 7:04:18 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
The co-defendants, court papers show, grew up in the Flathead Reservation area. After they were indicted in the case, Paul fled to Canada to evade justice.

27 posted on 09/06/2024 7:08:01 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: Red Badger

Is it true that bald eagle tastes like spotted owl? 😋


28 posted on 09/06/2024 7:08:35 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: Red Badger
Was it this guy?


29 posted on 09/06/2024 7:09:21 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Jan_Sobieski

Totally untrue.

It tastes like Whooping Crane...................


30 posted on 09/06/2024 7:09:58 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

😂


31 posted on 09/06/2024 7:10:41 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: Red Badger

Tastes like wild hickory nuts.


32 posted on 09/06/2024 7:13:29 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: CaptainPhilFan

Those don’t matter. Democrat policies are responsible for those.


33 posted on 09/06/2024 7:15:43 AM PDT by sport
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To: circlecity

Evidently. There is a hell of a market for murdered baby parts.


34 posted on 09/06/2024 7:17:35 AM PDT by sport
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To: Red Badger

I see. Thanks for explaining the painting. It’s very well done. Excellent foreshortening of the reclining figure.
Every feather in place for the ravenous eagle.


35 posted on 09/06/2024 7:20:00 AM PDT by lee martell
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To: sport

And the more “finished” those baby parts are the more profitable - this is the reason they insist on abortion up until the time of birth.


36 posted on 09/06/2024 7:24:59 AM PDT by Let's Roll ("You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality" -- Ayn Rand)
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To: greatvikingone

GREAT SONG thanks for reminding me about it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XiHENHXOQM&ab_channel=brotherearl1944


37 posted on 09/06/2024 8:04:32 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: Red Badger

Find a tall tree
and 'decorate' it...



38 posted on 09/06/2024 8:08:01 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: mewzilla

Fire ants and sugar....


39 posted on 09/06/2024 8:13:56 AM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)
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To: Red Badger

Having something eating your liver forever sounds like Trudeau and Canada.


40 posted on 09/06/2024 8:18:17 AM PDT by Colt1851Navy (What was wrong with Nixon?)
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