CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — “Tiger King” star Bhagavan “Doc” Antle goes to jail — however not for so long as prosecutors needed — after admitting he broke federal regulation shopping for endangered animals to maintain at his zoo in South Carolina.
Antle was sentenced to at least one yr and at some point behind bars and fined $55,000 on Tuesday, practically two years after he pleaded responsible to trafficking in unique animals and cash laundering. He pleaded responsible in November 2023.
It was probably the tip to the authorized dramas that surrounded “Tiger King,” the Netflix true crime documentary that captivated a rustic shut down by COVID-19.
The star, Joe Unique, is serving a 21-year federal jail sentence for making an attempt to rent two totally different males to kill the opposite star, Carole Baskin. Unique, whose actual title is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was a collector and personal zookeeper from Oklahoma and Baskin, runs Large Cat Rescue in Florida.
Antle appeared within the first season with Unique and Baskin and was the star of the present’s third season.
Prosecutors say Antle purchased animals on the black market
Antle’s crimes had been unrelated. He laundered cash utilized in a human smuggling scheme as a result of he wanted massive quantities of money rapidly to purchase animals like chimpanzees, lions, tigers, cheetahs and different creatures, Prosecutor Patrick Duggan stated. These animals are unlawful to promote as a result of they’re endangered, and their excessive costs may encourage poachers to steal them from the wild, Duggan defined.
“He was knowingly and illegally buying and selling them as a part of a black market that drives one other black market of poaching and smuggling,” Duggan stated in court docket Tuesday.
Antle’s legal professionals requested a sentence of simply probation or dwelling confinement, saying their consumer wanted to look after the 150 unique animals that eat 1,000 kilos (454 kilograms) of meat a day at his Myrtle Seaside Safari. They stated most of the animals solely reply to Antle.
Family and friends ask for mercy for Antle
About 25 family and friends packed a federal courtroom in Charleston. A number of informed Choose Joseph Dawson III that Antle was beneficiant and caring. They stated he raised a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} to battle poaching and protect wild habitats for tigers, lions and chimpanzees.
The choose was swayed. Federal tips referred to as for about two years in jail, to which prosecutors agreed. However Dawson stated, though Antle broke federal regulation, all of the proof pointed to him caring for animals.
Antle apologized on the finish of his sentencing listening to for inflicting issues for his life’s work.
“I made a mistake, I did silly issues,” Antle stated, including, “I hope I’ll be capable to pull it again collectively for everyone.”
Antle wanted animals so Myrtle Seaside Safari may supply experiences
Antle’s Myrtle Seaside Safari was recognized for charging a whole lot or 1000’s of {dollars} to let individuals pet and maintain child animals like lions, tigers and monkeys that had been so younger they had been nonetheless being bottle-fed. Clients would pay $200 for 5 minutes and pictures with a child chimp or $7,000 for a sleepover. Antle would typically journey into excursions on an elephant.
The zoo stays open by reservation solely.
Prosecutors stated Antle bought or purchased cheetahs, lions, tigers and a chimpanzee with out the correct paperwork for a decade. They stated he additionally laundered greater than $500,000 so he may rapidly get money to purchase extra animals.
Antle is aware of federal regulation nicely and was in a position to keep away from prosecution for years, prosecutors stated. He would settle for a big “donation” for an animal to his conservation basis. He would declare to maintain the animal in the identical state he purchased it, however then transfer it to his Myrtle Seaside zoo, prosecutors stated.
FBI tapped cellphone calls led to a number of prosecutions
The FBI was listening to Antle’s cellphone calls with an informant as he defined a child chimpanzee may simply price $200,000. Non-public zookeepers can cost a whole lot of {dollars} for pictures with docile younger primates or different animals, however the revenue window is just open for a couple of years earlier than the rising animals can not be safely dealt with.
“I needed to get a monkey, however the individuals received’t take a examine. They solely take money. So what do you do?” Antle stated in line with a transcript of the cellphone name in court docket papers.
Antle must quit three chimpanzees he purchased as a part of his plea deal.
Two of Antle’s workers have already been sentenced for his or her roles in his schemes.
Meredith Bybee was given a yr of probation for promoting a chimpanzee whereas Andrew “Omar” Sawyer, who prosecutors stated helped Antle launder cash, was given two years of probation.
Jason Clay, a Texas personal zoo proprietor, pleaded responsible to illegally promoting a primate and was sentenced to 4 months in jail, whereas expenses had been dropped in opposition to California ranch proprietor Charles Sammut.