‘Tiger King’ Star Doc Antle Sentenced to Prison for Wildlife Trafficking and Money Laundering

Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle leaves the Charleston federal courthouse on Tuesday

Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, a prominent figure from the hit docuseries Tiger King, has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for trafficking exotic animals and laundering more than $500,000 in illicit funds. In addition to the prison term, the 65-year-old was ordered to pay a $55,000 fine following his guilty plea to the charges in 2022.

Federal prosecutors said Antle was involved in the illegal purchase and sale of endangered animals—including tigers, lions, cheetahs, and a chimpanzee—over a ten-year period. The transactions were made without the required permits and paperwork, violating federal conservation laws.

Antle, 65, was sentenced to one year and one day behind bars and fined $55,000 on Tuesday

Authorities also revealed that Antle laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars derived from a human smuggling operation. Prosecutors argued the scheme provided him with fast cash to continue purchasing and trading exotic animals. "These animals are illegal to sell because they are endangered, and their high prices could encourage poachers to steal them from the wild," said federal prosecutor Patrick Duggan. "He was knowingly and illegally trading them as part of a black market that drives another black market of poaching and smuggling."

Antle gained widespread fame during the COVID-19 pandemic as a recurring figure in Netflix’s Tiger King documentary, which chronicled the lives and rivalries of big cat collectors in the United States. He appeared in the show’s first season alongside convicted zookeeper Joe Exotic and animal rights advocate Carole Baskin and later became the focal point of its third season.

He purchased lion cubs from Virginia to display in his South Carolina petting zoo

At the time of his sentencing in a Charleston, South Carolina federal courtroom, prosecutors stated that Antle ran Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, where guests paid steep fees for up-close experiences with young exotic animals. Customers reportedly paid $200 for five minutes with a baby chimpanzee and up to $7,000 for overnight animal encounters. Antle often rode into tours on an elephant and featured infant animals that were still bottle-fed.

Despite the conviction, supporters spoke on Antle’s behalf during sentencing. About 25 friends and family members told U.S. District Judge Joseph Dawson III that Antle was deeply committed to animal conservation and had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect wild habitats. His attorneys argued for probation or home confinement, citing that many of the 150 exotic animals under his care only respond to him. They also highlighted the substantial needs of the facility, which feeds over 1,000 pounds of meat to the animals daily.

Judge Dawson acknowledged Antle's contributions to animal care and advocacy but affirmed that federal laws had been broken. Although sentencing guidelines recommended nearly two years of imprisonment, Dawson noted Antle’s longstanding commitment to animal welfare as a mitigating factor.

In a statement at the hearing, Antle expressed regret. “I made a mistake. I did stupid things,” he said. “I hope I’ll be able to pull it back together for everybody.”

Myrtle Beach Safari remains operational, currently open to the public by reservation only.