Nebraska man sentenced for his part in black market trafficking of eagle parts

A Gordon, Nebraska man who pleaded guilty to selling parts of bald and golden eagles was sentenced in federal court on Monday in Rapid City.

As part of his sentence, 71-year-old Gary Fisher must pay more than $30,000 in restitution to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The federal government snared Fisher and 14 other people for the illegal black market trafficking of eagles, hawks, and owls in a sting operation two years ago.

Court documents say Fisher sold feathers and other parts of protected eagles to an informant in July of 2015.

Judge Jeffrey Viken says Fisher does not have a prior criminal past so he felt jail time was unnecessary.