Five years following the Netflix sensation
Tiger King
won over viewers throughout the COVID-19 quarantine period, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, a key individual, is preparing to end his legal disputes.
Antle could receive as many as ten years in jail after admitting guilt in November 2023 for smuggling rare animals and handling illicit funds.
The exact penalty requested by prosecutors along with any defense claims for reduced sentencing were not revealed prior to Tuesday morning’s federal court session in Charleston.
Three additional individuals who admitted guilt during the inquiry were given either probation or a four-month jail term.
Antle’s punishment marks the last real-life section of the
Tiger King
saga. The
Netflix
The series launched in March 2020 at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns.
The program revolved around traders and protectors of large felines, highlighting conflicts involving Joe Exotic, a collector and owner of a private animal sanctuary from
Oklahoma
, and
Carole Baskin
who operates Big Cat Rescue in
Florida
.
Exotic, born Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is currently incarcerated with a 21-year federal jail term after attempting to pay two separate individuals to murder Baskin.
Antle, owner of a private zoo named Myrtle Beach Safari, participated in the initial season of the documentary and became the central figure in the third season.
The zoo run by Antle was famous for collecting hundreds or even thousands of dollars from visitors who wanted to touch and hold infant animals such as lions, tigers, and monkeys that were too young to be weaned. Guests had the option to take pictures or record videos. At times, Antle would join tour groups riding atop an elephant.
The Myrtle Beach Safari continues to operate exclusively through reservations, as stated on its official site. Antle has been released on bond following his arrest in June 2022.
The federal accusations against Antle came following the release of the Tiger King documentary.
Authorities stated that he sold or purchased cheetahs, lions, tigers, and a chimpanzee without the necessary documentation. Additionally, they claimed that in another operation, Antle helped conceal over $500,000, which an informer indicated was intended for facilitating illegal entry into the U.S. for labor purposes.
Antle was accustomed to possessing significant sums of money that he could transfer swiftly, according to investigators.
The
FBI
Was hearing Antle’s conversations with the informer as he described how a baby chimp might cost $200,000. Exclusive zoo keepers may ask hundreds of dollars for pictures with calm young apes or other creatures, yet the opportunity for gain lasts just a short time until the animals grow too large to manage safely.
“I needed to obtain a monkey, but the individuals didn’t accept checks. They only accepted cash. So what could I do?” Antle stated as per a transcript from the phone conversation included in legal documents.
Two
Several of Antle’s employees have already received sentencing for their involvement in his fraudulent activities.
Meredith Bybee received one year of probation for selling a chimp, whereas Andrew “Omar” Sawyer, whom prosecutors claimed assisted Antle with money laundering, was sentenced to two years of probation.
Jason Clay, a
Texas
A private zoo operator admitted guilt for unlawfully selling a monkey and received a sentence of four months in jail, with charges being dismissed against
California
ranch owner Charles Sammut.
Antle was additionally found guilty in 2023 in a
Virginia
The individual faced charges related to four counts of wildlife smuggling involving the sale of lions and received a sentence of two years in prison, which was suspended “subject to five years of good conduct.” An appellate court reversed two of the convictions, stating that Virginia law prohibits selling protected animals but does not ban buying them.
Antle was acquitted on five charges of animal abuse during the same Virginia court case.
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