Once famous for his role in Netflix’s hit series Tiger King, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle now finds himself in the middle of serious legal trouble. Once surrounded by tigers and TV fans, Antle is now surrounded by lawyers and judges. His upcoming sentencing hearing in Charleston, South Carolina, could mark the final chapter of his long fall from grace.
Antle has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and money laundering charges, including violations of the Lacey Act, which bans illegal wildlife trafficking. His sentencing could bring up to 5 years in prison, fines up to $250,000 per count, and supervised release.
What Did Doc Antle Do?
Antle admitted that between 2018 and 2020, he directed the illegal sale and purchase of endangered animals such as lion cubs, tiger cubs, cheetahs, and a juvenile chimpanzee. To hide the transactions, he used cash payments, created false paperwork, and disguised payments as donations to his nonprofit organization, the Rare Species Fund.
He also laundered over $500,000 in cash he believed came from illegal immigration activities. Antle and his partner Andrew Sawyer accepted cash, deposited it into controlled accounts, and issued checks back after taking a 15% cut. The money was disguised as construction work at Myrtle Beach Safari.
Who Else Was Involved?
Several others were charged in connection with Antle’s activities:
Andrew “Omar” Sawyer: Antle’s business partner in Myrtle Beach.
Meredith “Moksha” Bybee: Guilty of wildlife trafficking; formerly general manager at Myrtle Beach Safari.
Charles Sammut: Owns Vision Quest Ranch in California.
Jason Clay: Owns Franklin Drive Thru Safari in Texas.
One co-defendant, William Dallis, was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison for laundering money linked to illegal immigration. He admitted to depositing illegal cash into his account and issuing checks after keeping a fee.
Legal History and Court Decisions
In 2023, a Virginia court convicted Antle on charges of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to sell endangered animals. However, two of those felony convictions were later overturned. Antle’s lawyers argued the Virginia law applied only to selling—not buying—endangered animals. He was cleared of animal cruelty charges, and charges against his daughters were also dropped.
Despite this, the Virginia Court of Appeals upheld his conspiracy convictions, keeping part of the case active.
Ongoing Issues with Myrtle Beach Safari
After his federal arrest, Antle allegedly tried to sell Myrtle Beach Safari to a company formed by his reported wife. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to block any sale of the property or any endangered animals. The court also modified his bond, allowing him to travel outside South Carolina but restricting business activity related to endangered animals.
The Rare Species Fund was later marked as “suspended” by South Carolina officials, and its website now states it is not accepting donations.
Public and Government Reactions
Animal rights group PETA has praised the Justice Department’s action, saying they’ve done what USDA failed to do for years—hold Antle accountable for exploiting endangered animals.
PETA stated, “It’s fitting that ‘Doc’ Antle is behind bars after years of locking up the endangered animals he used in tawdry photo ops.”
Doc Antle’s Response to Allegations
Antle has denied many of the accusations shown in Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story, calling them fabricated and exaggerated. He claims the series was designed for entertainment and not meant to be taken as fact.
“They just created stories for people to watch. It’s not the truth,” he told local media.
Doc Antle’s journey from animal trainer and reality show fame to criminal courtrooms shows a dramatic shift in his public image. With multiple charges, co-defendant convictions, and ongoing investigations, his future is uncertain. What’s clear is that federal authorities are taking wildlife trafficking and money laundering very seriously—and Antle’s actions, once hidden behind the glamour of big cats, are now fully exposed in the courtroom spotlight.
