Tiger King’s Doc Antle Jailed for Wildlife Trafficking & Money Laundering
I’m guessing you skipped your daily headlines, so let me break down how Tiger King’s Doc Antle just got his whiskers officially singed by the feds. On July 8, 2025, federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, delivered a 12-month prison sentence to Robert “Doc” Antle, the ponytailed big-cat handler turned reality-TV star, after he pled guilty to laundering more than $500,000 and violating the Lacey Act’s ban on illegal wildlife trafficking. Yes, that’s the same Antle who once paraded tigers and chimps for tourists at Myrtle Beach Safari during his Tiger King fame days.
Antle’s deal isn’t limited to a year behind bars. He’s also obligated to pay a $55,000 fine, surrender three chimpanzees, forfeit nearly $200,000 in assets linked to the scheme, and endure three years of supervised release once he’s free. Prosecutors revealed that Antle disguised dirty money through shell companies, funneling it as if it were plundered from a human-smuggling operation. Court documents show wire transfers flagged by financial institutions and undercover surveillance capturing exotic animals moved under cover of darkness.
His co-defendants didn’t fare any better. One admitted selling him a newborn chimp in violation of federal wildlife statutes, a detail that prosecutors highlighted as particularly egregious. All this stems from a 2022 raid on his South Carolina sanctuary, where agents seized records and creatures amid allegations of a multi-year trafficking ring, part of a broader crackdown on illicit wildlife trade.
Howard Baskin, husband of Tiger King rival Carole Baskin, told TMZ that while a longer sentence would have been preferable, having Antle confined “in a cage” for any time is a victory for law enforcement and animal welfare groups. Baskin’s TMZ interview underscores ongoing efforts to permanently close Myrtle Beach Safari and end decades of alleged animal mistreatment.
During sentencing, the defense argued Antle’s educational programs and charitable outreach at his safari should soften the blow. The judge disagreed, pointing to falsified paperwork and millions in unreported transactions as evidence of a deliberate, profit-driven trafficking operation. Now, Antle faces a real cage of his own, far removed from roaring tigers and cheering visitors.
Animal rights advocates are already pressuring for another court hearing to shut down Myrtle Beach Safari for good. Keep an eye on the next legal filings—they could finally seal the fate of Antle’s controversial empire. Glad I could clear that up for you without too much hand-holding. Hopefully that wasn’t too complicated.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, U.S. Department of Justice filings
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
