A pigeon enthusiast plead guilty to capturing and killing federally protected hawks in Stamford.

"Red-tailed and Cooper’s hawks are protected species under federal law," said U.S. Attorney Daly.



"With our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who violate the law and harm such protected migratory birds."

Thomas Kapusta, of Westbury, New York, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four counts of taking, capturing and killing red-tailed hawks and Cooper's hawks and one count of conspiracy to take and kill the hawks.

Red-tailed hawks and Cooper's hawks are birds of prey that consume pigeons.

Kapusta admitted he constructed and maintained a pigeon coop in order to race the birds on Weed Avenue in Stamford. The man said he would let the pigeons out of the coop for exercise and viewed the hawks on his property as a threat, according to court documents.

The 63-year-old said he and his associate set up a trap designed to capture birds of prey and then shot them before disposing of their bodies on four occasions between early September and late October.

Kapusta is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2016. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 months and a fine of up to $75,000.