Internet Posting Leads To Successful Recovery of Protected Eagle Feathers

A resident of Edgewood, New Mexico has been charged with violating federal wildlife laws that prohibit the selling of, and offering to sell, eagle feathers in a criminal complaint filed in federal court. The complaint alleges violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Lacey Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act in March 2014, in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. The investigation was initiated on March 7, 2014, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received information regarding an Internet website posting of Indian arts and crafts, which appeared to include federally protected feathers. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers and was investigated by the Office of Law Enforcement of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with assistance from the New Mexico Game and Fish Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the U. S. Marshals Service, and the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.