Netflix’s “Tiger King” Star Doc Antle Jailed in Landmark Wildlife Trafficking & Money Laundering Case

In a stark reversal of his self-styled conservationist image, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari and a prominent figure in the Netflix documentary Tiger King, has been sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wildlife trafficking and money laundering over $500,000. The case marks a significant victory for US law enforcement agencies cracking down on the illicit trade in endangered species and financial crimes that conceal such activity.

Antle’s sentence comes alongside penalties for multiple co-defendants and a related guilty plea by a woman who illegally sold him a baby chimpanzee. Federal authorities uncovered a complex criminal enterprise involving fraudulent donations, bulk cash transactions, and falsified paperwork — all designed to facilitate the unlawful trade in protected animals, including chimpanzees, cheetahs, lions, and tigers. These species are protected under the Endangered Species Act and international conservation treaties.

Far from being an isolated incident, the case has exposed a disturbing trend: the use of nonprofit organisations as fronts for illicit wildlife transactions. Antle used his Rare Species Fund to disguise payments as donations, masking the true nature of his deals. This exploitation of conservation branding highlights the urgent need for greater transparency and oversight in wildlife charities and exotic animal facilities.

The investigation also revealed a separate conspiracy involving laundering cash from a fake migrant smuggling operation. Antle attempted to integrate more than $500,000 into the financial system by fabricating construction expenses tied to Myrtle Beach Safari, the 50-acre zoo he operates in South Carolina.

The sentencing sends a powerful message about the consequences of wildlife exploitation and the misuse of financial systems to conceal criminal conduct. In a statement, the US Fish and Wildlife Service underscored that Antle and his associates “betrayed both the law and public trust,” while the FBI reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing individuals who pose a threat to protected species and the financial system alike.

As public scrutiny of private zoos intensifies and enforcement efforts sharpen, the Antle case may prove a turning point in the fight against the commercialisation of endangered animals under the guise of conservation. For regulators, conservationists, and financial institutions alike, it is a timely reminder that illicit wildlife trade is rarely just about animals — it is often interwoven with broader networks of fraud, deceit, and financial crime.

Read the press release here.