Charges laid after poaching and illegal trafficking investigations

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 19, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Five individuals have been charged following an investigation by Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services into poaching and illegal trafficking.

Simon Paul of Montana, Teresa Snow and Eli Snow of Morley, Alta., and James Brittain and Sophia Soriano of Calgary face a combined 34 charges under Alberta’s Wildlife Act and nine charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Paul had previously failed to appear in court for multiple charges related to the killing and trafficking of birds of prey in the United States.

FWES received notice that Paul was in Canada in November 2024. In an operation launched by FWES, Paul, Snow and Britain sold several items made with illicit animal products to undercover officers. These items included bald eagle feathers, black bear claws and raptor talons.

In March 2025, authorities received a tip from the Report-A-Poacher hotline alleging that Paul and Eli Snow were shooting eagles and hawks near Cochrane. A search warrant executed on the trucks and residences of the accused uncovered eagle talons, feathers and blood, as well as unsecured firearms.

Across both investigations, the accused face the following charges:

– Hunting wildlife for which there is no open season

– Unlawful possession and trafficking of wildlife

– Possession for the purpose of unlawful trafficking

– Providing false or misleading information to a fish and wildlife officers- Careless transportation and storage of firearms

“The commitment of Fish and Wildlife personnel has driven this positive outcome. I would like to thank the RCMP and the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service for their collaboration and assistance that was essential to these complex investigations,” said Rob Lamont, deputy chief of FWES.

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