Tiger King Star Doc Antle Fined $10,000 for Endangered Lion Cub Purchase in Virginia

Bhagavan Antle, aka Doc Antle, who is known for his appearance in the 2020 Netflix documentary “Tiger King,” has been fined $10,000 for his involvement in the illegal purchase of endangered lion cubs in Virginia. In a recent ruling, the 63-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison, although the sentence was suspended.

Source: WMBF News/YouTube

In June, a jury convicted Doc Antle of two counts of wildlife trafficking and two counts of conspiring to traffic wildlife. These charges stemmed from his purchase of lion cubs, which he had intended to showcase at his business in South Carolina. Frederick County Judge’s recent decision led to a two-year prison sentence for each charge, to be served concurrently. Additionally, Antle has been ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, amounting to $2,500 per conviction. Furthermore, he has been banned from working with, owning, brokering, buying, selling, trading, transferring, bartering, or donating exotic animals in Virginia for five years.

The District Attorney involved in the case emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law without exception. This prosecution marked the conclusion of a multi-year investigation and shows Virginia’s commitment to combating wildlife trafficking and enforcing legal consequences for those involved.

Antle’s involvement in the “Tiger King” documentary series shed light on the controversial world of big cat breeders and private zoos in the United States. He was portrayed as a mentor to Joe Exotic, a central character in the series, and exhibited a cult-like approach to his business. His history of violations dates back to 1989 when he received fines from the US Department of Agriculture for abandoning animals at his Virginia zoo. Over the years, he accumulated more than 35 USDA violations for animal mistreatment.

In addition to his recent conviction, Antle has faced multiple legal issues, including money laundering charges related to a smuggling operation across the Mexican border. If convicted of these charges, he could spend up to 20 years in federal prison. In October 2020, he was charged with illegally purchasing endangered lion cubs and faced nine misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

Doc Antle’s conviction and fine for purchasing endangered lion cubs in Virginia mark another chapter in his long history of legal troubles related to animal mistreatment and wildlife trafficking. As he faces ongoing federal charges and a five-year ban on working with exotic animals in Virginia, the legal repercussions of his actions continue to unfold.

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Related Content:

• “Tiger King” Star Doc Antle Faces Conviction for Wildlife Trafficking
• Watch the Transformation of These Cubs From Mother Tiger Rescued From Tiger King Park
• Tiger King Star, Doc Antle Arrested By FBI For Money Laundering Charges
• Tiger King Star Jeff Lowe’s Zoo Was Raided by Authorities
• Jeff Lowe Owner of Tiger King Zoo Banned from Exhibiting Animals

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