A Texas man received five years of probation and was ordered to pay $77,500 in restitution after admitting his role in a black-market operation that killed approximately 3,600 bald and golden eagles and other birds on and around Montana’s Flathead Indian Reservation.
John Patrick Butler, 71, of Texas, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, and one count of purchasing eagles and eagle parts killed illegally in violation of the Lacey Act.
Co-defendant Travis John Branson, a Washington man, was sentenced in October 2024 to three years and 10 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and $777,250 in restitution for his role as the organizer. Branson and others, including Simon Paul, hunted the birds over multiple years and sold feathers and body parts, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) law enforcement and partners uncovered the scheme by following the money and building cases against the conspirators. USFWS highlighted the case during National Police Week, noting that it was a profit-driven wildlife crime that was stopped through diligent investigation.
Killing our national symbol to sell on the black market? Not on our watch.
A Washington man admitted to killing bald and golden eagles on and around the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana and selling their feathers and body parts on the black market, part of an illegal… pic.twitter.com/3xKH7JALgc
— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (@USFWS) May 14, 2026
History as National Symbol
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) holds deep cultural and symbolic significance. In the United States, the bald eagle was chosen for the Great Seal in 1782, but early designs considered the golden eagle, per the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Benjamin Franklin famously preferred the turkey, but the eagle—symbolizing strength, freedom, and authority—prevailed as a national emblem rooted in Roman traditions of power.
Golden eagles serve as national symbols for several countries, including Mexico, Germany, Austria, Kazakhstan, and Albania, reflecting their widespread reverence across cultures for power and majesty, per the American Bird Conservancy.
In the U.S., both bald and golden eagles carry profound importance to Native American tribes. The USFWS operates the National Eagle Repository to provide legally obtained eagles and parts for religious and cultural use, addressing demand while protecting wild populations.
On May 14, the U.S. Postal Service announced its bald eagle stamp, available now:
Fly high! It's time for your envelopes to leave the nest 🪺 Send them off with the new Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult Stamps🦅 Order yours and other stamp-inspired products today at https://t.co/7AgQVZHyh7 pic.twitter.com/5FgvQERa0p
— U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) May 14, 2026
Legal Protections and Penalties
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, as amended, prohibits taking, possessing, selling, purchasing, bartering, or transporting bald or golden eagles, including their parts, nests, or eggs, without a permit. Violations can result in fines up to $100,000 for individuals ($200,000 for organizations) and one year in prison for a first offense, with increased penalties for felonies.
The Lacey Act further prohibits interstate trafficking of wildlife taken in violation of other laws. In this case, restitution reflected the scale of the operation and harm to populations.
Population Status
Golden eagles are not listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS surveys estimate roughly 30,000 golden eagles across the United States, with populations in the western U.S.—where most reside—appearing stable based on recent data, though concerns persist about juvenile survival and localized pressures.
The leading cause of adult golden eagle mortality in the western U.S. includes illegal shooting. Other threats involve habitat changes, electrocution, and collisions.
USFWS manages eagle permits for incidental take, such as from wind energy, with updated rules in 2024 aimed at balancing conservation and development.
USFWS continues to work with partners to protect these iconic birds, central to America’s natural and cultural heritage.
