Tiger King's Doc Antle sentenced to one year in prison for buying endangered animals

Tiger King sensation Bhagavan "Doc" Antle has been handed a one-year prison term after entering a guilty plea for trafficking exotic wildlife and engaging in money laundering. The 65-year-old personality, who gained fame on the Netflix hit series alongside Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin and headlined the third season, faced federal charges in June 2022 following the Tiger King saga.

In 2023, he acknowledged his violation of federal laws by purchasing endangered species for his South Carolina animal park. Previously, nearly two years prior, he had confessed to conspiring to breach the Lacey Act and to laundering in excess of $500,000 under the guise of an operation purportedly smuggling undocumented immigrants into the U.S. from Mexico.

On Tuesday, Antle received a sentence of one year and one day in prison, coupled with a $55,000 fine. Per the US Department of Justice's announcement, Antle is also mandated to undergo three years of supervised release and relinquish three chimpanzees along with upwards of $197,000 to federal authorities.

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Prosecutor Patrick Duggan remarked that Antle engaged in money laundering linked to a human trafficking plot due to his urgent need for substantial cash to acquire animals such as chimpanzees, lions, tigers, cheetahs, and other exotic species. Duggan articulated in court on Tuesday that the sale of these endangered animals is illegal due to their vulnerability and high market value, which could incentivize poachers to extract them from their natural habitats.

"He was knowingly and illegally trading them as part of a black market that drives another black market of poaching and smuggling," Duggan stated. Antle's defense team pleaded for a sentence limited to probation or home confinement, highlighting their client's responsibility towards the care of 150 exotic animals at his Myrtle Beach Safari, which require 1,000 pounds (454kg) of meat daily, with many of the creatures responding solely to Antle, reports the Mirror US.

Supporters of Antle, including about 25 friends and family members, filled a federal courtroom in Charleston, South Carolina, yesterday. Several advocates spoke before Judge Joseph Dawson III, praising Antle's generosity and dedication to conservation efforts, noting his fundraising of hundreds of thousands of dollars to combat poaching and protect the natural habitats of tigers, lions, and chimpanzees.

Judge Dawson acknowledged that while federal guidelines suggested a two-year prison term, which prosecutors endorsed, he recognized that despite Antle's violation of federal law, the evidence demonstrated his commitment to animal care. At the conclusion of his sentencing hearing, Antle expressed remorse for the complications his actions caused to his life's mission.

"I made a mistake, I did stupid things," he confessed, continuing with, "I hope I'll be able to pull it back together for everybody."

Antle's Myrtle Beach Safari gained notoriety for its exorbitant fees, charging visitors hundreds or even thousands of dollars for the chance to cuddle and feed baby animals like lion cubs, tiger kittens, and infant monkeys.

For a mere $200, customers could enjoy five minutes and snapshots with a juvenile chimpanzee, while a $7,000 fee granted an overnight stay. Antle was known for making grand entrances on elephant back during tours.

The zoo is currently operational but strictly by reservation. Prosecutors accused Antle of illegally trading cheetahs, lions, tigers, and a chimp, skirting proper documentation for over ten years.

They alleged he also funneled more than half a million dollars to swiftly amass cash for new animal purchases. They pointed out that Antle is well-versed in federal regulations and managed to dodge legal repercussions for an extended period.

According to prosecutors, Antle would receive a hefty "donation" for an animal to his conservation foundation, claiming the creature would remain in the purchase state, only to transfer it to his Myrtle Beach facility. Two associates of Antle have been penalized for their involvement in his operations.

Meredith Bybee received a year of probation for her part in selling a chimpanzee, while Andrew "Omar" Sawyer, implicated in aiding Antle's money laundering, was sentenced to two years of probation. Jason Clay, a Texas private zoo owner, has admitted to the illegal sale of a primate and received a four-month prison term, while charges against California ranch owner Charles Sammut were dismissed.

This sentencing could mark the conclusion of the legal entanglements that have ensnared the "Tiger King" saga. The show's central figure, Joe Exotic, is currently serving a 21-year sentence in federal prison for attempting to orchestrate the murder of his rival, Carole Baskin.

Exotic, born Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was an exotic animal collector and private zoo operator from Oklahoma, while Baskin manages Big Cat Rescue in Florida. After the sentencing of Antle, Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division stated, "Today's sentence holds Doc Antle and his co-defendants accountable for activity they knew was unlawful and unethical.

"They illegally purchased and sold newborn endangered wildlife even as they laundered more than $500,000 in smuggling money - all while promoting themselves as conservationists." US Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina commented on Antle's actions, saying, "Doc Antle portrayed himself as a conservationist.

"But in reality, he was a key player in the illegal chimpanzee trade, and he laundered more than half a million dollars through a complex web of deceit. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their work in bringing the defendant to justice for both of these federal crimes.

"These sentences should send a clear message: the FBI and our partners will not tolerate those who attempt to violate our laws," stated Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. "We remain firmly committed to investigating and holding accountable individuals whose illegal actions threaten our financial systems and put protected species at risk."

Douglas Ault, Assistant Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, added, "This case underscores the grave criminal threat posed by wildlife traffickers who not only exploit vulnerable species for profit but also use sophisticated money laundering tactics to conceal their crimes. Our special agents uncovered a complex network of illicit activity involving the trafficking of endangered animals - including baby chimpanzees and cheetahs - falsified documentation, and the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars through purported non-profit organizations.

"These traffickers operated under the false pretense of conservation, betraying both the law and public trust. We remain unwavering in our commitment to dismantling such networks and bringing those responsible to justice."