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Ptah

(33,492 posts) Fri Nov 1, 2024, 10:30 AM Nov 1

32

Man sentenced for killing eagles, hawks on Flathead Reservation

Source: KPAX (Misou;a MT TV)

MISSOULA — The man who admitted to killing over 100 eagles and thousands of other birds on the Flathead Indian Reservation to sell on the black market was sentenced Thursday to nearly four years in prison.

Travis John Branson of Cusick, Washington, and formerly of the Flathead Reservation, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy and wildlife trafficking charges for the unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and violation of the Lacey Act.

The Lacey Act prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law.

He and several others killed at least 118 eagles and 3,600 other birds in a poaching operation on tribal land.

Read more: https://www.kpax.com/news/crime-and-courts/man-sentenced-for-killing-eagles-hawks-on-flathead-reservation

19 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Man sentenced for killing eagles, hawks on Flathead Reservation (Original Post) Ptah Nov 1 OP

Disgusting cilla4progress Nov 1 #1

Depraved. marble falls Nov 1 #2

He got off way too lightly. avebury Nov 1 #3

I agree. Too lenient. Owl Nov 1 #4

Poachers rarely get lengthy sentences. maxsolomon Nov 3 #15

4 years isn't long enough Clouds Passing Nov 1 #5

NOT LONG ENOUGH....what the fuck.... bahboo Nov 1 #6

Evil person. OldBaldy1701E Nov 1 #7

It would be great if they tracked down some of the buyers Mosby Nov 1 #8

Exactly, put the fear of God into them Beringia Nov 4 #19

Just Awful!!! And, yeah, a longer sentence! electric_blue68 Nov 1 #9

I am astounded that he kill nearly 4,000 birds. Ptah Nov 1 #10

Should be sentenced to a lifetime of service, under close supervision, of wildlife conservancy. Hermit-The-Prog Nov 1 #11

Where is the mugshot? stompanata Nov 1 #12

Only 4 years? Blue_Roses Nov 2 #13

Sentence about 10 years short. IMO republianmushroom Nov 2 #14

Cusick is where the Kalispel Tribe is headquartered. maxsolomon Nov 3 #16

Took long enough to catch his lousy ass. oasis Nov 3 #17

4 years for mass murder??? Vegan4life Nov 4 #18

cilla4progress

(25,901 posts)

1. Disgusting

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 10:31 AM

Nov 1

...

marble falls

(62,047 posts)

2. Depraved.

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 10:36 AM

Nov 1

avebury

(11,073 posts)

3. He got off way too lightly.

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 10:37 AM

Nov 1

He should have gotten a longer sentence plus a significantly high fine that only goes away when fully paid.

Owl

(3,704 posts)

4. I agree. Too lenient.

Reply to avebury (Reply #3)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 10:56 AM

Nov 1

maxsolomon

(35,036 posts)

15. Poachers rarely get lengthy sentences.

Reply to avebury (Reply #3)

Sun Nov 3, 2024, 08:23 PM

Nov 3

Despite flagrant, repeated flouting of laws they clearly know about.

Clouds Passing

(2,267 posts)

5. 4 years isn't long enough

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 11:07 AM

Nov 1

bahboo

(16,953 posts)

6. NOT LONG ENOUGH....what the fuck....

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 11:18 AM

Nov 1

OldBaldy1701E

(6,338 posts)

7. Evil person.

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 11:32 AM

Nov 1

They exist. Unfortunately.

Sentence is too light. Bastard needs to be fed to the eagles and hawks as far as I am concerned.

Mosby

(17,453 posts)

8. It would be great if they tracked down some of the buyers

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 11:40 AM

Nov 1

And charged them as well. He must have records, addresses right?

Beringia

(4,570 posts)

19. Exactly, put the fear of God into them

Reply to Mosby (Reply #8)

Mon Nov 4, 2024, 05:09 PM

Nov 4

electric_blue68

(17,978 posts)

9. Just Awful!!! And, yeah, a longer sentence!

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 12:03 PM

Nov 1

Ptah

(33,492 posts)

10. I am astounded that he kill nearly 4,000 birds.

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 01:34 PM

Nov 1

That's some sick obsession.

Hermit-The-Prog

(36,586 posts)

11. Should be sentenced to a lifetime of service, under close supervision, of wildlife conservancy.

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 01:57 PM

Nov 1

stompanata

(1 post)

12. Where is the mugshot?

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Fri Nov 1, 2024, 03:03 PM

Nov 1

Every article just shows Eagle feathers. He's done a great job keeping his face off the internet.

Blue_Roses

(13,394 posts)

13. Only 4 years?

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Sat Nov 2, 2024, 12:32 AM

Nov 2

republianmushroom

(17,614 posts)

14. Sentence about 10 years short. IMO

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Sat Nov 2, 2024, 08:22 PM

Nov 2

maxsolomon

(35,036 posts)

16. Cusick is where the Kalispel Tribe is headquartered.

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Sun Nov 3, 2024, 08:28 PM

Nov 3

He lived on the Flathead Rez before Cusick.

Is this guy a Native, and he was selling to tribal buyers?

oasis

(51,703 posts)

17. Took long enough to catch his lousy ass.

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Sun Nov 3, 2024, 11:49 PM

Nov 3

I wonder if the authorities finally paid someone to snitch.

Vegan4life

(8 posts)

18. 4 years for mass murder???

Reply to Ptah (Original post)

Mon Nov 4, 2024, 01:29 PM

Nov 4

Should've been life. Vile monster. The lax penalties for animal cruelty are a black stain on our country. And neither party cares.

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