John Patrick Butler, 71, pleaded guilty in December of last year.
HUMBLE, Texas — A Humble man has been sentenced after federal prosecutors say he trafficked bald and golden eagle parts across state lines.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 71-year-old John Patrick Butler pleaded guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy, unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and purchasing illegally killed eagles and eagle parts in violation of the Lacey Act.
A federal judge sentenced Butler to five years of probation and ordered him to pay $77,500 in restitution.
Prosecutors said investigators uncovered messages from Butler’s co-defendant, Travis John Branson, describing the illegal killing of eagles. In one message included in court documents, Branson allegedly wrote he was “on a killing spree” to obtain eagle tail feathers for future sales.
Authorities said Branson, Simon Paul and others hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation in northwest Montana and elsewhere, then sold the birds and their parts on the black market for large amounts of cash.
Court records show Butler, who lives in Humble, bought eagle parts from the group between November 2020 and March 2021. Prosecutors said Butler requested specific types of eagles and paid for tail feather sets and eagle tails through PayPal and other online payment methods.
According to prosecutors, the eagle parts were mailed from Montana to Butler’s Humble home. Postal records and text messages confirmed Butler received the shipments, according to the Department of Justice.
Among the purchases, according to the Department of Justice:
- Butler paid $450 in December 2020 for a golden eagle tail set and a bald eagle tail set.
- Later that month, he paid another $300 for a golden eagle tail set after receiving a photo of it by text message.
- Prosecutors said Butler also paid $750 for two golden eagle tails that were shipped through the U.S. Postal Service.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case.
Federal officials noted the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was first passed in 1940 to protect bald eagles, America’s national symbol. Congress later expanded the law in 1962 to include golden eagles.
Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include your name and the best way to reach you.