Contact: Robert Johns, 202-234-7181 ext.210,

Bald Eagle by Ralph Wright

(June 27, 2011) Three Montana men were arrested and arraigned following the conclusion of “Operation Rolling Thunder,” a multi-year federal investigation into the illegal trafficking of eagle and migratory bird feathers and remains.

Arrested were William E. Hugs, SR., William E. Hugs, JR., and Ernie Lemuel Stewart, following the investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The three men were arraigned in federal court in Billings, Mt. on June 14, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby. If convicted, they face possible penalties of up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.  All three defendants pled not guilty to the charges.

“The laws protecting eagles and migratory birds exist to ensure their long term survival. If the value of sustaining bird populations doesn’t dissuade people from illegal trafficking, then the fear of prosecution is the next best deterrent. We congratulate the law enforcement staff at FWS for providing that deterrent,” said ABC President George Fenwick.

The investigation took place from March 2008 through February 2011, and focused on the unlawful trafficking in protected migratory birds, primarily Bald and Golden Eagles. The federal statutes violated include the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Lacey Act.

“Bald and Golden Eagles face many threats in our country, including unlawful killing fueled by the illegal trade in their parts,” said Steve Oberholtzer, Special Agent in Charge for FWS. “These magnificent animals are important to the American public for a variety of reasons, and we will investigate violations of the statutes that protect them to ensure they receive the protection they need to survive. The defendants in this case are charged with killing and dismembering some of the nation’s most treasured raptors for mere monetary gain. “