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Global News
08-07-2025
- Global News
‘Tiger King' star Doc Antle sentenced for animal trafficking
Five years after the true crime documentary Tiger King captivated audiences while the world was shut down due to COVID-19, the final legal troubles for one of the stars of the docuseries has been resolved in a courtroom in South Carolina. Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle was sentenced to 12 months in prison for trafficking exotic animals and money laundering after pleading guilty in November 2023. The Tiger King star is also set to pay a US$55,000 fine and serve three years of supervised release after serving his federal prison sentence. The sentencing was originally set for June 10, but both parties filed a motion stating that they needed more time to resolve several objections to the pre-sentencing report in the federal animal trafficking case. Lawyers also needed more time to speak to potential witnesses who were out of state. Story continues below advertisement According to court documents, Antle paid a person to travel to Florida in September 2018 and pay around $35,000 for two young cheetahs. In January 2019, Antle sold two lion cubs to an organization in exchange for $15,000. The court documents also show that Antle made $10,000 in payments to the Rare Species Fund in exchange for two tigers that were transported from South Carolina to Montana in March 2019. In May 2020, a young chimpanzee was transported from Florida to Myrtle Beach Safari, where Antle paid $200,000 in cash and cheques for the animal, according to court docs. Antle also requested that payments for endangered species be made to his non-profit so they could appear as 'donations.' All of the animals are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Three others who pleaded guilty in his investigation received either probation or a four-month prison sentence. 'Wildlife crime is often connected with other criminal activity, including money laundering,' said Edward Grace, the assistant director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. 'This investigation revealed a pattern of illicit wildlife transactions orchestrated by the defendant under the guise of donations and false paperwork.' 'The Service and our partners will continue to hold accountable those involved in wildlife trafficking and other related crimes to ensure the future of all federally protected species,' Grace added. Story continues below advertisement 'The Service will continue to bring to justice individuals who profit from the illegal trafficking of big cats and endangered species.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Antle's sentence is the final true-life chapter of the Tiger King saga. The Netflix series debuted in March 2020 near the peak of COVID-19 restrictions. 2:05 Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness Trailer The seven-part docuseries followed the life of zoo owner Joe Exotic — whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage — and the events that led to his allegedly hiring a hitman in a failed attempt to take out his main rival, Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue in Florida. However, many viewers were focused on whether Baskin was involved in the disappearance of her ex-husband, Don Lewis. Baskin denies the claims and has never been charged. In the show, Antle was portrayed as a mentor to Exotic, but he previously alleged that the filmmakers lied to him about the type of series he would be participating in. Story continues below advertisement 'Remember, this is not a documentary. This is a salacious, outrageous ride through a television show produced to create drama, to just tie you into some crazy train wreck of a story between the feud of Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic, and the meltdown that ensued between two people who both are far too close to murder themselves, and I think a little bit of madness thrown in on their parts,' Antle told Maldonado-Passage is serving a 21-year federal prison sentence for trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin. Antle, who owns a private zoo called Myrtle Beach Safari, appeared in the first season of the docuseries and was the star of the third season. Antle's zoo was known for charging hundreds or thousands of dollars to let people pet and hold baby animals such as lions, tigers and monkeys that were so young they were still being bottle-fed. Customers could have photos or videos made. Antle would sometimes ride into tours on an elephant. Myrtle Beach Safari remains open by reservation only, according to its website. Antle has remained out on bail since his arrest in June 2022. Federal charges were brought against Antle after the Tiger King series was released. Prosecutors said that Antle sold or bought cheetahs, lions, tigers and a chimpanzee without the proper paperwork. They also said that in a separate scheme, Antle laundered more than $500,000 that an informant claimed was being used to get people into the U.S. illegally to work. Story continues below advertisement 3:06 'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic re-sentenced to 21 years in federal prison Investigators said that Antle was used to having large amounts of money that he could move around quickly. The FBI had been listening to Antle's phone calls with the informant as he explained a baby chimpanzee could easily cost $200,000. 'I had to get a monkey, but the people won't take a check. They only take cash. So what do you do?' Antle said, according to a transcript of the phone call in court papers. Two of Antle's past employees have already been sentenced for their roles in his alleged schemes. Meredith Bybee was given a year of probation for selling a chimpanzee, while Andrew 'Omar' Sawyer was given two years of probation after prosecutors said he helped Antle launder money. Story continues below advertisement Jason Clay, a Texas private zoo owner, pleaded guilty to illegally selling a primate and was sentenced to four months in prison, while charges were dropped against California ranch owner Charles Sammut. 1:00 Donald Trump asked if he'd consider pardoning 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic Antle was also convicted in 2023 in a Virginia court of four counts of wildlife trafficking over sales of lions and was sentenced to two years of prison, suspended 'upon five years of good behaviour.' An appeals court overturned two of the convictions, ruling that Virginia law bans the sale of endangered species but not their purchase. Antle was found not guilty of five counts of animal cruelty at that same Virginia trial. — With files from The Associated Press
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former ‘Tiger King' star, Myrtle Beach safari owner set for federal sentencing in conspiracy, money laundering case
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) –Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle, the former star of Netflix's 'Tiger King' docuseries and founder of Myrtle Beach Safari, is slated to be sentenced next month on federal conspiracy and money laundering charges. Antle, 63, pleaded guilty in November 2023 — admitting to violations of The Lacey Act that prohibits trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish or plants, including animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. Antle is set to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Dawson III at 10:30 a.m. on June 10 in Charleston, according to federal records. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release for each count. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre wildlife tropical preserve that offers tours and private encounters with exotic wildlife. Antle is also the director of the Rare Species Fund, a nonprofit organization registered in South Carolina. According to the DOJ, Antle conspired to violate the Lacey Act between September 2018 and May 2020 by directing the sale or purchase of two cheetah cubs, two lion cubs, two tigers and a juvenile chimpanzee — all of which are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Antle scored a legal win in February after the Virginia Court of Appeals tossed a pair of felony convictions. Antle's lawyers argued that his conviction of purchasing lion cubs was due to a misunderstanding of a Virginia statute that prohibits the sale of endangered species but not their purchase. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
