Illegal Montana Eagle Killings Bring Federal Consequences

There are some things people in Montana take pretty seriously, and harming bald eagles is high on that list.

A 71-year-old Texas man has been sentenced after federal investigators say he bought illegally killed bald and golden eagles connected to a large wildlife trafficking operation tied to Montana. The case involved the illegal sale of eagle feathers and body parts across state lines and has drawn attention because of the sheer number of birds connected to the investigation.

Texas Man Sentenced in Montana Eagle Trafficking Case

John Patrick Butler of Humble, Texas, admitted in court to being involved in the unlawful sale and purchase of bald and golden eagles, according to federal prosecutors.

Court records show Butler pleaded guilty late last year to several federal charges connected to trafficking protected birds and buying eagle parts that had been illegally obtained.

This week, a federal judge sentenced him to five years of probation and ordered him to pay more than $77,000 in restitution.

Investigators Detail Where Eagles Were Killed

According to investigators, the birds involved in the case were hunted and killed on the Flathead Indian Reservation and in other locations.

Authorities say multiple people participated in the operation, which allegedly involved selling eagle feathers and other bird parts on the black market for large amounts of money.

The investigation uncovered text messages that prosecutors say showed just how openly some of the people involved discussed the crimes. In one message included in court filings, a co-defendant allegedly bragged about being “on a killing spree” while collecting eagle tail feathers to sell.

Federal Records Reveal Eagle Feather Transactions

Investigators traced multiple transactions between Butler and the people accused of killing and shipping the birds.

Court documents describe payments sent through PayPal and other online payment methods for bald eagle and golden eagle tail feather sets. Authorities also tracked packages mailed from Montana to Texas through the United States Postal Service.

Prosecutors built their case using a combination of messages, shipping information, and payment records.

Among the purchases listed in court records were multiple golden eagle tail sets bought over several months between late 2020 and early 2021.

Investigation Tied to Thousands of Birds

One of the most shocking parts of the case is the number of birds investigators say were involved overall.

According to federal prosecutors, roughly 3,600 birds were killed as part of the broader operation, including bald and golden eagles.

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Federal Protections for Bald and Golden Eagles

Bald eagles have been protected under federal law since 1940 through the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Congress later expanded those protections to include golden eagles in 1962.

The law was created not just because of the birds’ importance to ecosystems, but because the bald eagle serves as the national symbol of the United States.

The investigation was handled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.