A 25-year-old Yakama Tribal member has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for selling eagle feathers in Spokane, Washington.
Benjamin Blue Arquette, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, was sentenced by Senior District Court Judge William Fremming Nielsen to 30 days in jail, followed by one year of court supervision.
The sentence comes after Arquette pleaded guilty to one count of Commercializing in Eagles in violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668(a)).
According to court documents, Arquette admitted to selling tail feathers from two golden eagles to an undercover officer working with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on January 12, 2015.
Arquette claimed he took the eagles while hunting and arranged the sale for $1,200 through telephonic and email contacts.
As a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, Arquette can lawfully possess eagle feathers for non-commercial purposes. However, it is unlawful for anyone to offer eagle feathers for sale or to sell eagle feathers.
The case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, with participation from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington State Gambling Commission, and the Yakama Nation Tribal Police.
The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Ohms, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Washington.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Wildlife Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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