A man from Hardin, Montana was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after the illegal poaching of eagles and related gun violations.
Harvey Hugs, 60, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to a felony possession of firearms which he used to shoot, kill, and poach federally protected bald and golden eagles for more than a year, selling the animal parts on the black market for profit. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided over the case and handed down the sentence yesterday.
Hugs was also sentenced in June 2023 to three years in federal prison for trafficking golden eagle wings, feathers, and tails in violation of America’s Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act which prohibits anyone, without a permit, from disturbing or killing eagles or distributing and selling their parts. He was also ordered to pay a $70,000 restitution.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana, in March 2021 law enforcement executed a search warrant of Hugs’ property where he was found to be in illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and eagle parts. The search recovered body parts from 21 different eagles (U.S.A.O District of Montana, 2024).
Hugs was convicted in 2002 for involuntary manslaughter, part of the reason it is illegal for him to be in possession of a firearm.
It is unknown exactly how many eagles Hugs killed overall, but evidence submitted by the prosecutors suggest his operation was “expansive and protracted.”
He is currently serving the two prison terms consecutively.
A violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act can result in a fine of $100,000 ($200,000 for organizations), 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 (Bald and golden eagle protection act: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service).
References
District of Montana, U.S.A.O. (2024) Hardin felon sentenced to three years in prison for illegal possession of firearm, District of Montana | Hardin felon sentenced to three years in prison for illegal possession of firearm | United States Department of Justice. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/hardin-felon-sentenced-three-years-prison-illegal-possession-firearm (Accessed: 25 January 2024).
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (no date) Bald and golden eagle protection act: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, FWS.gov. Available at: https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act (Accessed: 25 January 2024).
Giuseppe Gillespie Writing 
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