The Legacy of Tiger King: A Closer Look at Doc Antle
Tiger King and Myrtle Beach Safari operator Bhagavan “Doc” Antle was sentenced today in federal court to one year and one day in prison and a $55,000 fine, plus three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, including animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. This sentence is in addition to Antle’s prior Virginia state court convictions that resulted in a $10,000 fine, a two-year suspended sentence, five years of probation, and a five-year ban on working with, trading, possessing, or engaging in other activities with non-native exotic wildlife in Virginia.
The phenomenon of Tiger King captured the attention of millions, unveiling the controversial lives of big cat enthusiasts in America. Among the most enigmatic figures featured in this true crime documentary series is Doc Antle, a charismatic yet polarizing character who runs the Myrtle Beach Safari. Known for his lavish lifestyle and unique approach to animal care, Tiger King Antle’s presence raises important questions about ethics, conservation, and the exploitation of exotic animals. In this blog post, we will delve into Doc Antle’s background, his role in the Tiger King saga, and the implications of his practices within the world of wildlife entertainment.
The US Department of Justice issued this press release:
Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, Sentenced for Federal Wildlife Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges
Co-Defendants Also Sentenced; Woman Pleads Guilty in Related Case for Unlawfully Selling Chimpanzees to Antle
WASHINGTON — Tiger King, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — who was featured in a popular Netflix documentary — was sentenced today to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and launder more than $500,000 for what he believed to be an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States across the Mexico border. Antle was also ordered to pay a $55,000 fine, serve three years of supervised release, and forfeit three chimpanzees and more than $197,000 to the government.
Two of Tiger King Antle’s co-defendants were recently sentenced for their separate involvement in either the Lacey Act or money laundering conspiracy. A defendant in a related case recently pleaded guilty to illegally selling a newborn chimpanzee to Antle.
“Today’s sentence holds Doc Antle and his co-defendants accountable for activity they knew was unlawful and unethical,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “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.”
Tiger King , “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,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “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,” said 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.”
“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,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “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 nonprofit 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.”
The wildlife conspiracy outlined various schemes Tiger King Antle used to hide his illegal trafficking in endangered species, including requiring payments to be “donations” funneled through his non-profit, The Rare Species Fund; conducting transactions in bulk cash to hide their true nature; and creating false paperwork to hide the illegality of his wildlife transactions. The animals trafficked included baby chimpanzees, cheetahs, lions, and tigers, all of which are protected under both the Endangered Species Act and international treaties. The Lacey Act prohibits trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish or plants, including animals protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Tiger King Antle’s co-defendant in the wildlife conspiracy, Jason Clay, was recently sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement, and to pay a $4,000 fine into the Lacey Act Reward Fund. In 2019, Clay illegally sold a juvenile chimpanzee to Antle in exchange for $200,000 in cash and a juvenile gibbon.
As for the money laundering conspiracy, Antle and a co-defendant laundered more than $500,000 in cash between February and April 2022 that were represented to be proceeds from an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants across the Mexican border into the United States. Evidence presented to the court showed that Tiger King Antle planned to conceal the cash he received by writing checks for what appeared to be construction-related services for Myrtle Beach Safari, which he owned and operated, and which was featured in the Netflix documentary. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre for-profit zoo that offers tours and private encounters with exotic wildlife.
Tiger King Antle’s co-defendant in the money laundering conspiracy, Andrew Sawyer, was recently sentenced to serve two years of probation including eight months of home detention. He also forfeited nearly $185,000 to the government and a chimpanzee.
In a different Lacey Act violation case connected to Tiger King Antle, Shaylynn Kolwyck-Peterson pleaded guilty last month to illegally selling a chimpanzee to Antle in 2022 for $200,000. The Kolwyck family owns and manages the private Sunshine Zoological Preserve LLC in north Florida. The facility is believed to be the only one in the United States breeding chimpanzees for private or non-scientific purposes.
The FBI and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower for the District of South Carolina prosecuted the case.
Below, please find a statement from PETA Foundation General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet, who attended today’s sentencing and is available for interviews:
Tiger King Antle will finally learn how it feels to be stripped of freedom, locked in a cage, and have every moment of every day controlled. But unlike Antle, the animals he sentenced to life at his sleazy roadside zoo have committed no crimes, and PETA will work to shut down Myrtle Beach Safari and ensure that the exploited big cats, chimpanzees, and other endangered animals still imprisoned there are released to reputable facilities where they will get the care they so desperately need and deserve.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act, which bans private ownership of big cats and prohibits public contact with them, has passed since Antle’s illegal transactions took place, and in May, the bipartisan Captive Primate Safety Act—which would ban the private ownership, breeding, and commercial trade of monkeys and apes—was reintroduced in Congress. Antle and his family and associates have long held captive chimpanzees and exploited them for public contact, the entertainment industry, and on social media.
More details about Antle’s exploitation of animals are available here
