According to federal court records, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, who participated in the 2020 Netflix docuseries “Tiger King,” has pleaded guilty to wildlife trafficking and money laundering allegations.
Antle, 63, is not the first figure from “Tiger King” to face criminal charges. He admitted in court to directing the sale or purchase of two cheetah cubs, two lion cubs, two tigers, and one juvenile chimp – all of which are protected under the Endangered Species Act, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office in South Carolina.
“Antle concealed the transactions with bulk cash payments and falsified paperwork to show non-commercial transfers entirely within one state.” “Antle also requested that payments for endangered species be made to his nonprofit in order for them to appear as ‘donations,'” according to the announcement.
“The defendant held himself out as a conservationist, yet repeatedly violated laws protecting endangered animals and then tried to cover up those violations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in a news release.
‘Tiger King’ Star “Doc” Antle Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Endangered Species
Antle owns Myrtle Beach Safari, a private zoo in South Carolina that was featured in “Tiger King.” He stated that he was “very disappointed” with his representation in the documentary, according to CNN station WPDE-TV.
According to the US Attorney, Antle faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for each offense.
Doc Antle, a prominent figure in the Tiger King documentary, is a controversial character known for his involvement in the exotic animal industry. He is the founder of T.I.G.E.R.S. (The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species) and has faced scrutiny for his unconventional lifestyle and relationships with multiple wives and exotic animals.
‘Tiger King’ Star “Doc” Antle Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Endangered Species
Antle has been criticized for his alleged mistreatment of animals and his charismatic yet polarizing persona, which has sparked widespread debate and fascination among viewers.
Many fans watched the show even as they questioned the techniques – and feuds – of the show’s protagonist, known as “Joe Exotic,” who presided over a menagerie of huge cats at a sprawling zoo in Oklahoma.
In 2019, Joseph Maldonado-Passage was found guilty of a murder-for-hire plan against animal rights activist Carole Baskin, as well as other crimes, including animal maltreatment. Baskin, who had run a tiger sanctuary in Florida and had a million-dollar judgment against him, had a long-running dispute with Maldonado-Passage, which was documented in the “Tiger King” series. His sentence was later reduced due to medical concerns.
SOURCE – CNN
