Tiger King star Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, has been accused of laundering more than half a million dollars. The federal prosecutors announced that Antle was charged with money laundering and faces up to 20 years in prison. The money was from an alleged smuggling enterprise across the Mexican border into the United States. On Monday, the allegations were up at a federal court session in Florence, South Carolina.
Antle and Sawyer, as per the authorities, laundered $505,000 over four months by issuing cheques from firms they managed. They received a 15% fee on the income that passed through their hands. Prosecutors claim that the cheques were made to appear like money for building work at Myrtle Beach Safari. However, they were actually to serve as proof that the beneficiaries had legitimate income.
The complaint in the court mentioned that Antle planned to conceal the cash he received by inflating tourist numbers at his 50-acre wildlife tropical reserve. “He had previously used bulk cash receipts to purchase animals for which he could not use cheques,” prosecutors said.
There are several other charges against Antle
Not just money laundering but there are multiple charges against Antle. Animal rights activists have also alleged Antle of not treating lions and other wildlife animals well. He was also guilty of cruelty to animals and wildlife trafficking in Virginia in 2020. Additionally, there are two other charges. It includes wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to traffic wildlife at two different courts.
Furthermore, there are 13 allegations of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act and animal cruelty charges related to the lion cub trafficking. Antle has a long record of charges, dating back to 1989 when the US Department of Agriculture punished him for abandoning deer and peacocks at his Virginia zoo.