A Tiger King star from the hit Netflix phenomenon is facing up to 10 years in prison for trafficking exotic animals and money laundering.
It has now been five years since the documentary first captivated audiences when it aired in March 2020 during the peak of Covid-19.
The infamous series offered a peak behind the curtain of dealers and conservationists of big cats, focusing specifically on the feud between Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin.
Oklahoma native Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is currently serving a 21-year federal prison sentence for trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin.
Now, however, Bhagavan ‘Doc’ Antle – who was a central figure – could be facing a similar fate in jail.
Antle, who owns private zoo Myrtle Beach Safari, appeared in the first season of the documentary and was the star of the third season.
His zoo was renowned for earning hundreds of thousands of dollars by allowing customers to pet and hold baby animals, such as lions, tigers and monkeys, many of whom were still being bottle-fed.
Antle would also reportedly sometimes ride into tours on an elephant.
But, after pleading guilty in November 2023 to trafficking animals and laundering money, he could now be facing 10 years in prison.
The federal charges brought against him came to light after the Tiger King series aired, and he has remained on bail since his arrest in June 2022.
Prosecutors said he sold or bought cheetahs, lions, tigers and a chimpanzee without the proper paperwork.
It has also been alleged that Antle laundered more than $500,000 that an informant told him was being used to get people into the U.S. illegally to work.
After listening to his phone calls, the FBI reportedly heard Antle say during a phone call: ‘I had to get a monkey, but the people won’t take a check. They only take cash. So what do you do?’
It is not yet known what the specific punishment will be sought by prosecutors and any defence arguments for leniency remain undisclosed.
Three other people who pleaded guilty in his investigation have received either probation or a four-month prison sentence.
This comes after Exotic announced he had got married yet again in April despite currently being behind bars.
The 62-year-old revealed he has got married to fellow inmate Jorge Flores Maldonado, 33.
Sharing a photoshopped snap of them wearing suits to mark the occasion, he wrote: ‘Never been more proud of someone. Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado.’
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