“Tiger King” Stardock Entree has been declared animal trafficking – National

Five years after the true crime documentary Tiger King captivated audiences, while the world was closed due to Covid-19, the final legal issue of one of the Docusary stars was resolved in a South Carolina courtroom.

Bhagavan “Doc” Antle pleaded guilty in November 2023 before being sentenced to 12 months in trafficking exotic animals and money laundering.

The Tiger King star will be offering a three-year, supervised release after paying a $55,000 fine and sentenced to federal prison.

The ruling was originally set for June 10th, but the parties filed a complaint saying it would take more time to resolve some objections to the pre-optional report on federal animal trafficking cases. The lawyers also needed more time to speak to potential witnesses outside of state.

According to court documents, Entre paid people to travel to Florida in September 2018, paying about $35,000 for the two young cheetahs. In January 2019, Antle sold two Lion Cubs to the organization in exchange for $15,000.

Court documents also show Antle paid $10,000 to the Rare Species Fund in exchange for two tigers transported from South Carolina to Montana in March 2019.

In May 2020, a young chimpanzee was transported from Florida to a Myrtle Beach Safari, and Entle paid cash and a check to the animals, according to court documents.

Entre also requested nonprofits to pay for endangered species species, allowing them to appear as “donations.”

All animals are protected under the Endangered Species Species Act.

Three other people who pleaded guilty in his investigation were sentenced to probation or four months in prison.

“Wildlife crime is often linked to other criminal activities, including money laundering,” said Edward Grace, assistant director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for law enforcement. “The investigation revealed patterns of illegal wildlife trade that were coordinated by the defendants under the guise of donations and false documents.”

“The Service and our partners will continue to hold responsibility for those involved in wildlife trafficking and other related crimes and ensure the future of all federally protected species,” Grace added.

“The service continues to bring to you individuals who benefit from illegal human trafficking of big cats and endangered species.”

Entre's verdict is the final chapter of the true life of the Tiger King Saga. The Netflix series debuted in March 2020 near the peak of Covid-19 restrictions.

The seven-part docusary followed the life of zoo owner Joe Exotic, and his real name was Joseph Maldonado Pudge, and an event in which he allegedly hired a hitman in a failed attempt to steal Carol Baskin, his main rival in Big Cat Rescue in Florida. However, many viewers focused on whether Baskin was involved in the disappearance of her ex-husband, Don Lewis. Baskin denied the claim and was never charged.

On the show, Entre was portrayed as an exotic leader, but he previously claimed that the filmmakers lied about the type of series he would be involved in.

“This isn't a documentary. It tells you a bit of a crazy train wreck, just passing through the television show produced to create the drama, tied up to the crazy train wreck of the story between the feud between Carol Baskin and Joe Exotic, and both of them tie you to the crazy train wreck during the meltdown too close to killing themselves.

Maldonado-Passage is sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin.

Entle, who owns a private zoo called Myrtle Beach Safari, appeared in the first season of Docusary and was the star of the third season.

The Entre zoo was known for charging hundreds or even thousands of dollars to help people keep baby animals like lions, tigers, monkeys and other baby animals, such as monkeys, who were still bottled. Customers can make photos and videos. Entre would occasionally ride elephant tours.

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Myrtle Beach Safari remains open for reservations only, according to its website. Antle has been released on bail since being arrested in June 2022.

After the release of the Tiger King series, federal accusations came against Entre.

Prosecutors said Entle sold or purchased cheetahs, lions, tigers and chimpanzees without proper documentation. They also said in another scheme, Entre washed more than $500,000, which informants claimed was being used to make people work illegally.

Investigators said Antle is used to having a lot of money and can move around quickly.

The FBI explained that Babeijn Pansy could easily cost $200,000, so he was listening to Antle's call with the informant.

“I had to get a monkey, but people don't get checks. They just take cash. So what do you do?” Entre said according to a transcript of the phone in court documents.

Two of Antle's past employees have already been declared for their role in his alleged scheme.

Meredith Byby was given a year of probation to sell chimpanzees, and Andrew “Omar” Sawyer was given two years of probation after prosecutors said they helped Entrellonder Money.

Jason Clay, the owner of a private zoo in Texas, pleaded guilty to illegally selling primates and was sentenced to four months in prison, and charges against California ranch owner Charles Samm have been dropped.

Entre was also convicted in Virginia's court for four counts of wildlife trafficking over the sale of lions in 2023 and sentenced to two years in prison sentence suspended “for five good behavior.”

The appeals court overturned two convictions and found that Virginia law prohibits the sale of endangered species, but not their purchase.

It was found that Entre had not committed five counts of animal cruelty in the same Virginia trial.

– Use files from Associated Press

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