Two Americans from Washington and Montana, who boasted via text messages of their poaching exploits and their “killing spree,” have been accused of illegally killing around 3,600 birds, some of which are protected by federal law.
Simon Paul, 42, and Travis John Branson, 48, were both charged Wednesday with illegal trafficking, conspiracy, and violating the Bald Eagle Protection Act 13 times. the golden eagle, according to an indictment made public Wednesday and reported by the BBC.
In total, the two men would have shot around 3,600 birds over several years, to resell parts and feathers on the black market, but prosecutors did not specify whether other rare or endangered species would have fallen under the shots from their rifle, according to the British media.
At one point, they even reportedly laid down a deer carcass to attract their prey.
They are said to have committed their crime on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana, but also elsewhere.
Travis John Branson even went so far as to boast of having “committed crimes” and having embarked “on a killing spree”, bringing in “significant sums of money”, according to the BBC.
The bald eagle was long considered an endangered species, but thanks to conservation efforts, the national bird of the United States is no longer considered as such, although it is still protected by law federal, punishable by one year in prison and a fine, according to the media.
They would also risk a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a hefty fine of US$250,000, only for the conspiracy charge if they are found guilty, said “The Independent”.
