In a significant legal development, Bhagavan "Doc" Antle, the infamous owner of a roadside zoo featured in the Netflix documentary series "Tiger King," has pled guilty to major federal charges that could lead to serious repercussions for his wildlife operation. On Monday, at the Charleston federal courthouse, the 63-year-old Antle admitted to conspiring to violate the Lacey Act and engaging in money laundering.
Antle operates the Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.), also popularly known as the Myrtle Beach Safari, a tropical wildlife preserve located in South Carolina. The facility has gained notoriety not just for its exotic animal encounters, but also for the questionable legality surrounding some of the wildlife transactions conducted there.
The Lacey Act is a critical conservation law that prohibits the trafficking of illegally taken wildlife species, including those protected under the Endangered Species Act. Court documentation reveals a series of troubling actions from September 2018 until May 2020, wherein Antle directed unlawful purchases and sales of endangered species. This involved the transaction of two cheetah cubs, two lion cubs, two tigers, and even a juvenile chimpanzee—all species that are legally protected, highlighting a flagrant disregard for wildlife laws.
Prosecutors have laid out a detailed case against Antle, stating that he routinely used cash payments to obscure these transactions. Rather than conducting his business transparently, Antle falsified documentation to misrepresent these sales as non-commercial transfers, which were supposedly conducted wholly within one state. Furthermore, Antle attempted to legitimize his actions by routing payments through his nonprofit organization, portraying them as donations to cover up the illegal sales.
The situation worsened for Antle as investigators also uncovered evidence linking him to money laundering activities. Between February and April of 2022, Antle and a collaborator were implicated in a series of financial transactions involving cash believed to be obtained through the transportation and harboring of undocumented immigrants. In an effort to disguise the origins of this cash, they deposited illicit funds into bank accounts they controlled, subsequently issuing checks to cash providers after taking a hefty 15% cut from each transaction.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim emphasized the seriousness of Antle’s actions: "The defendant held himself out as a conservationist, yet repeatedly violated laws protecting endangered animals and then tried to cover up those violations." This plea has catalyzed further scrutiny into the practices employed at the Myrtle Beach Safari, with law enforcement vowing to hold accountable individuals involved in wildlife trafficking to help ensure the survival of vulnerable species.
Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Law Enforcement, echoed these concerns, stating, "Wildlife crime is often connected with other criminal activity, including money laundering." Grace underscored that this investigation revealed a pattern of illicit wildlife transactions masquerading as legitimate donations, emphasizing the commitment to bring justice to those profiting from illegal activities involving endangered species.
In light of these developments, Antle faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison for each of the charges he has pled guilty to, along with fines reaching up to $250,000 and a three-year supervised release period post-sentence. U.S. District Judge Joseph Dawson III has confirmed that Antle's sentencing will occur after the preparation of a report by the U.S. Probation Office—a document that will play a critical role in determining his fate.
With this turn of events, Antle's case serves as a stern reminder of the legal consequences tied to wildlife trafficking and underscores the broader commitment of federal authorities to combative illegal wildlife trade.
As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to observe the ripple effects on similar operations across the nation. This development raises pressing questions about the regulations and enforcement surrounding exotic wildlife operations and the ethical implications of animal tourism within the U.S.
