Doc Antle, a star from Tiger King, sentenced to prison for animal trafficking and money laundering.
Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, a prominent figure from the acclaimed Netflix documentary series “Tiger King,” is set to serve a prison sentence following his conviction for federal wildlife trafficking and money laundering. Antle, 65, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, nearly two years after he pleaded guilty to these charges. Federal prosecutors disclosed the sentencing on Tuesday, which also includes a substantial fine of ,000, three years of supervised release, and the forfeiture of three chimpanzees along with roughly 0,000 in assets.
Antle, a well-known animal trainer featured prominently in both the original series and its subsequent season, “The Doc Antle Story,” was implicated in illegal wildlife activities that included the acquisition of endangered species. In June 2023, he was convicted of unlawfully purchasing endangered lion cubs in Virginia, intended for display and profit at his Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina.
In November 2023, Antle admitted to engaging in the sale or purchase of various endangered species, including two cheetah cubs, two lion cubs, two tigers, and one juvenile chimpanzee, all protected under the Endangered Species Act. The crimes occurred between September 2018 and May 2020 and were conducted under the guise of a conservationist narrative. U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling stated that Antle played a significant role in the illegal chimpanzee trade and laundered over 0,000 through a series of deceptive practices.
The initial season of “Tiger King,” which became a cultural sensation amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on the turbulent rivalry between Oklahoma zoo owner Joe Exotic and Florida animal rights advocate Carole Baskin. Joe Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is presently serving a 21-year federal prison sentence after being convicted on charges relating to a murder-for-hire plot against Baskin.
Antle’s operations were reportedly separate from those of Exotic, with prosecutors highlighting that he orchestrated a complex network for illegal wildlife trafficking, often misrepresenting transactions as charitable contributions to his non-profit organization, The Rare Species Fund.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation and the illegal animal trafficking industry. Prosecutors indicated that Antle knowingly participated in a black market that contributes to larger issues of poaching and smuggling, further complicating the fight against endangerment of species worldwide.
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