Simon Paul and Travis John Branson were indicted for allegedly gunning down thousands of birds, including eagles protected by federal law, over the course of several years.

A grand jury indicted two men on charges of going on a yearslong “killing spree” of federally protected eagles and selling “this country’s national symbol” on the black market, court documents revealed.

Simon Paul and Travis John Branson were each charged last week with one count of alleged conspiracy and 13 counts of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Federal prosecutors said they have messages from Branson stating that he was “committing felonies” and “telling buyers he was ‘on a killing spree’ to obtain eagle tail feathers for future sales.”

Branson would travel from Washington state to the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana to meet up with Paul who’d “help kill, transport and ship bald and golden eagles for future sales on the black market,” according to the indictment.

  • ddh
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1810 months ago

    Can I suggest volunteering or a nice stamp collection?

    • BruceTwarzen
      link
      fedilink
      1010 months ago

      Or work in a slaughterhouse. You get to kill helpless animals all day long.

    • Johanno
      link
      fedilink
      210 months ago

      But where’s the thrill of hunting then? I mean the thrill of using a high tech rifle shoot to unsuspecting birds.

      • @Buddahriffic
        link
        310 months ago

        You could use a high tech rifle to shoot unsuspecting stamps.

    • Johanno
      link
      fedilink
      110 months ago

      But where’s the thrill of hunting then? I mean the thrill of using a high tech rifle shoot to unsuspecting birds.