Latest news with #BaldandGoldenEagleProtectionAct
USA Today
4 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Man kills 20-plus bald eagles, hawks; public is livid over penalty
Man kills 20-plus bald eagles, hawks; public is livid over penalty A Virginia man pleaded guilty to killing in excess of 20 juvenile and mature bald eagles, and hawks in an effort to protect the waterfowl on his property so he could hunt them. The defendant was found in possession of a pole trap he used to attract the birds of prey to land and then he snared them, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The man, who built a small waterfowl impoundment on his property, also used a banned pesticide, carbofuran, to poison the eagles and hawks. The defendant was sentenced to one day in jail, two years probation, and nearly $10,000 in fines. 'We're fairly familiar with the guy. We'd dealt with him before on some waterfowl violations,' Virginia Conservation Police Master Officer Brian Bratton said. 'He showed us what was going on and told us what he was doing and why he was doing it. He was killing the hawks and eagles because they were killing all the ducks he was attracting to his impoundment. 'It was the time of year when hawks are migrating through. And in very late winter, the food supply really gets short, so these birds are looking for prey. He was very aware it was illegal, but in his mind, the ends justified the means, because he's getting rid of the predatory birds to protect the ducks. That many hawks and eagles is pretty significant, so I feel like it's a win for protecting the resource from further loss.' Commenters on the VDWR Facebook page vehemently disagreed about it being a win. Many were livid over the man's punishment, and were angry that the VDWR withheld his identity; he was identified as William Custis Smith by court records, according to The Charlotte Observer. Among the comments: 'He got ONE DAY IN JAIL?!!!! One day?!!! One Day?!!!! So it's open season on bald eagles in Virginia now apparently.' 'The sentence should have been much longer, and the fines should have been much higher.' 'Someone certainly dropped the ball here, either the U.S. Attorney, or the judge.' 'Where's the justice for those birds?' Also on FTW Outdoors: Texas fisherman catches record bass, releases it 3 months later 'This truly is a travesty.' 'They probably spent more than $10k in labor in the investigation.' 'Something seems fishy here. No named defendants, a `well known' hunter with numerous violations and only one day with some fines.' The U.S. Attorney prosecuted the case, and the suspect pleaded guilty to violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act can result in a fine of $100,000, imprisonment for one year, or both, for a first offense. Penalties increase substantially for additional offenses, and a second violation of this Act is a felony. The criminal penalties are for persons who 'take, possess, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle…[or golden eagle] alive or dead, or any part (including feathers), nest or egg thereof.' Take is defined as 'pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, molest or disturb.' The investigation, which included the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, began during the 2023-24 waterfowl season when a tip was received about an individual trapping and poisoning hawks and eagles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. While talking with Bratton, Smith admitted to killing in excess of 20 juvenile and mature bald eagles, and hawks, primarily red-shouldered and red-tailed. He also surrendered a can of carbofuran, the pesticide he used to commit some of the crimes, using it in a pile of fish heads. Bratton located traps and multiple eagle and hawk carcasses to confirm the original information. The investigation concluded on March 31, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources announced the results last week.
New York Post
5 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Virginia hunter gets single day in prison for killing 20 juvenile bald eagles and hawks in poisoning scheme: authorities
A Virginia hunter got a slap on the wrist for poisoning over 20 young hawks and bald eagles during migration season to stop them from preying on ducks, which he wanted to kill for sport, according to authorities. William Custis Smith was sentenced to one day in prison and received a $9,800 fine for killing 20 'juvenile' red-shouldered hawks and bald eagles in 2023, which he claimed were 'encroaching' on his duck hunting impoundment, according to court documents. 4 The corpse of the juvenile bald eagle, which was poisoned with an insecticide by hunter William Smith. U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia 'He's a big duck hunter, and he was in the process of trying to really get it going [and attracting ducks],' Virginia Conservation Police Master Officer Brian Bratton said of Smith in a statement. 'He was killing the hawks and eagles because they were killing all the ducks he was attracting to his impoundment. It was the time of year when the hawks are migrating through,' Bratton said, adding, 'He was very aware it was illegal.' Smith baited the migrating raptors with rotting fish heads he had poisoned with the insecticide carbofuran and set up pole traps — which are designed to ensnare birds' legs, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 4 An illegal pole trap on Smith's property ensnared the young raptors who were attracted to perch on the raised platform. U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia Investigators found a 'fresh carcass of a juvenile bald eagle' on the bird killer's Delmarva peninsula property and seized it as evidence shortly after opening their investigation, which was spawned from an anonymous tip, according to court documents. Agents installed a 'plot watcher camera' near the illegal pole trap and documented several birds being killed, including one that struggled for over seven hours before Smith beat it to death with a pole, court documents stated. A necropsy report on the bald eagle revealed the presence of carbofuran, an insecticide that was banned in 2008 because of its toxicity to humans, according to the documents. 'This particular poison acts so quickly that nine times out of 10, when an eagle, hawk or whatever eats something, it acts so quickly that they die with whatever they're eating still in their claws,' Bratton said. 4 Investigators found dead fish heads that Smith had poisoned and laid out for bait. U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia Smith admitted to investigators to 'killing in excess of 20 juvenile and mature bald eagles and hawks, primarily red-shouldered and red-tailed,' and handed over his batch of poison to authorities, according to the VDWR statement. A single, first offense violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act — which outlaws killing the birds among other offenses — can carry with it a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for up to one year, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A second violation is considered a felony and results in even steeper penalties. 4 The birds were killed during migration season in an area flush with nature preserves. Jane Scott Norris via Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Smith was charged in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges of Unlawful Taking of a Bald Eagle, Unlawful Taking of a Migratory Bird, and Unlawful Use of a Pesticide, according to court documents. As part of the plea deal, he was ordered to pay $9,800 in restitution, serve 24 months' probation, 50 hours of community service, and spend one day in jail, according to the VDWR. Smith's hometown of Hallwood, Virginia is near several protected areas including Saxis Wildlife Management Area, Mutton Hunk Fen Natural Area Preserve, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, and Wallps Island National Wildlife Refuge. US Fish and Wildlife did not respond to The Post's request for comment.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Eufaula man sentenced in ‘largest-ever' taxidermy bird, egg trafficking plot
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — A Eufaula man accused of helping a Georgia doctor smuggle in thousands of illegal taxidermy birds and eggs into U.S. has been sentenced. A statement from the Department of Justice revealed Toney Jones, of Eufaula, was sentenced to six months probation after pleading guilty to an Endangered Species Act charge. The second suspect in the case, Dr. John Waldrop of Cataula, Georgia, was sentenced to serve three years of probation and pay a $900,000 fine. He pled guilty to conspiracy to smuggle wildlife and ESA violations. According to the DOJ, Waldrop, with Jones' help, amassed a collection of 1,401 taxidermy bird mounts and 2,594 eggs. This included: Four eagles protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act 179 bird and 193 egg species that were listed on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 212 bird and 32 egg species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 'This included incredibly rare specimens like three eggs of the Nordmann's Greenshank, an Asian shorebird with only 900 to 1,600 remaining birds in the wild; no North American museum has any Nordmann Greenshank eggs in their collection,' the DOJ said in its statement. The birds and eggs were imported without the required declarations and permits between 2016 and 2020. Previously unsealed indictments for Jones and Dr. Waldrop claim that the two used online sites like eBay and Etsy to buy the hundreds of taxidermized bird mounts and thousands of live eggs from countries including Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. DOJ attorneys say that federal inspectors intercepted several packages at John F. Kennedy airport, Waldrop recruited Jones, who worked on the doctor's Georgia farm, to receive the packages. Jones was also accused of depositing around $525,000 in a bank account used by Waldrop to pay for the imports and hide his involvement. 'Waldrop's gigantic and rare bird collection was bolstered in part by illegal imports, where he and his enlisted co-conspirators intentionally avoided permit and declaration requirements,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). 'We applaud the efforts of the various federal and state law enforcement entities in investigating and prosecuting this case.' Attorneys previously said Waldrop collected protected avian species such as canary, dipper, duck, eagle, falcon, grouse, gull, hawk, heron, hoopoe, kestrel, kinglet, lapwing, murre, owl, parrot, pochard, rail, teal, snipe, spoonbill, vulture and woodpecker. USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab said tat after examining Waldrop's forfeited collection, it was determined to be the 'largest seizure of bird mounts in their 37-year history.' 'The scale of this investigation underscores the critical importance of protecting our natural resources,' said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. 'Waldrop's collection included thousands of bird specimens and eggs, many of which are among the rarest in the world. This is one of the largest bird trafficking cases in history, and the commercialization of species protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and CITES highlights the conservation impact of Waldrop's crimes. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement are unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding wildlife for future generations. We will remain vigilant and will continue to hold accountable those who exploit our shared natural resources for personal gain.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Columbus doctor fined $900,000 in largest bird mount trafficking case
A Columbus doctor and a Eufaula man have been sentenced in the largest bird mount trafficking cases, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. The DOJ said Dr. John Waldrop of Cataula was ordered to pay a $900,000 fine and serve three years of probation. The fine is one of the largest for an Endangered Species Act case, according to the DOJ. Toney Jones, of Eufaula, Alabama, was sentenced to six months of probation, the DOJ said. 'Waldrop pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to smuggle wildlife and ESA violations, while Jones pleaded guilty to an ESA charge,' the DOJ said in a news release. The DOJ said court documents and statements showed Waldrop collected 1,401 taxidermy bird mounts and 2,594 eggs, including: Four eagles protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act 179 bird and 193 egg species listed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 212 bird and 32 egg species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This includes rare specimens like three eggs of the Nordmann's Greenshank, an Asian shorebird with only 900 to 1,600 remaining birds in the wild; no North American museum has any Nordmann Greenshank eggs in their collection. 'Waldrop's gigantic and rare bird collection was bolstered in part by illegal imports, where he and his enlisted co-conspirators intentionally avoided permit and declaration requirements,' Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) said in the news release. 'This is one of the largest bird trafficking cases in history, and the commercialization of species protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and CITES highlights the conservation impact of Waldrop's crimes,' Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement said in the news release. The DOJ said Waldrop imported birds and eggs without the required declarations and permits between 2016 and 2020. Waldrop recruited Jones to receive the packages after USFWS inspectors intercepted several shipments, according to the DOJ. 'Jones also deposited approximately $525,000 in a bank account that Waldrop then used to pay for the imports and hide his involvement,' the DOJ release says. The DOJ said the pair used websites like eBay and Etsy to buy birds and eggs from around the world. Waldrop forfeited his collection, according to the DOJ. 'The USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab examined the items and determined it to be the largest seizure of bird mounts in their 37-year history,' the release says. The investigation was conducted by the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in Valley Stream, N.Y., as part of Operation Final Flight, according to the DOJ.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Alabama, Georgia men sentenced in largest bird mount trafficking case in history
WASHINGTON (TRIBUNE) — A federal judge in Brooklyn today sentenced two men for trafficking protected birds and eggs into the United States in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) resulting in the largest fine ever in a ESA case, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. John Waldrop of Cataula, Georgia, was ordered to pay a $900,000 fine — one of the largest-ever for an ESA case — and serve three years of probation. Toney Jones of Eufala, Alabama, was sentenced to six months of probation. Waldrop pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to smuggle wildlife and ESA violations, while Jones pleaded guilty to an ESA charge. 'Waldrop's gigantic and rare bird collection was bolstered in part by illegal imports, where he and his enlisted co-conspirators intentionally avoided permit and declaration requirements,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). 'We applaud the efforts of the various federal and state law enforcement entities in investigating and prosecuting this case.' 'The scale of this investigation underscores the critical importance of protecting our natural resources,' said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. 'Waldrop's collection included thousands of bird specimens and eggs, many of which are among the rarest in the world. This is one of the largest bird trafficking cases in history, and the commercialization of species protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and CITES highlights the conservation impact of Waldrop's crimes. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement are unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding wildlife for future generations. We will remain vigilant and will continue to hold accountable those who exploit our shared natural resources for personal gain.' Between 2016 and 2020, Waldrop imported birds and eggs without the required declarations and permits. After USFWS inspectors at John F. Kennedy International Airport and elsewhere intercepted several shipments, Waldrop recruited Jones, who worked on his Georgia farm, to receive the packages. Jones also deposited approximately $525,000 in a bank account that Waldrop then used to pay for the imports and hide his involvement. Waldrop and Jones used online sales sites such as eBay and Etsy to buy birds and eggs from around the world, including Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Waldrop forfeited his collection. The USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab examined the items and determined it to be the largest seizure of bird mounts in their 37-year history. The ESA requires that all wildlife imports be declared to USFWS and have required permits, including species protected by CITES. According to court documents and statements made in court, Waldrop amassed an extensive collection of 1,401 taxidermy bird mounts and 2,594 eggs which included: Four eagles protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, 179 bird and 193 egg species listed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and 212 bird and 32 egg species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This included incredibly rare specimens like three eggs of the Nordmann's Greenshank, an Asian shorebird with only 900 to 1,600 remaining birds in the wild; no North American museum has any Nordmann Greenshank eggs in their collection. The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in Valley Stream, New York, conducted the investigation as part of Operation Final Flight. The operation focused on the trafficking of protected birds into the United States. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources assisted with the investigation. Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD's Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Karamigios for the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
