'Tiger King' Star Doc Antle Sentenced In VA For Wildlife Trafficking

WINCHESTER, VA — Bhagavan "Doc" Antle, who starred in Netflix's hit series "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," received a two-year suspended prison sentence this week after he was convicted of wildlife trafficking, according to the state attorney general's office.

Antle was also banned from owning, buying, selling or trading exotic animals in the Commonwealth for five years, Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a statement.

Antle was convicted in June on two counts of wildlife trafficking and two counts of conspiring to wildlife traffic after authorities said he illegally purchased endangered lion cubs in Frederick County to display them at his zoo in South Carolina, prosecutors said.

Authorities launched an investigation into Antle in 2019, according to reports. His conviction followed a week-long trial.

"Today concludes a multi-year investigation and prosecution by my office," Miyares said in a statement. "In Virginia, we uphold the rule of law without exception, whether dealing with violent repeat offenders, big pharma, fraudsters and scammers, or wildlife traffickers. This case sends a clear message that bad actors will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth."

In addition to upholding Antle's conviction, a judge ordered him to pay a $2,500 fine per conviction, totaling $10,000.

Antle was featured prominently in the "Tiger King" series, which focused on Oklahoma zoo operator Joe Exotic, who was also accused of mistreating animals and was convicted in a plot to kill rival Carole Baskin.

Antle's conviction is the latest in a series of others involving animal trafficking and mistreatment.

In June 2022, Antle was one of five people indicted for crimes involving federal wildlife trafficking and money laundering, WTOP reported. According to The Associated Press, Antle has accrued more than 35 Department of Agriculture violations for mistreating animals dating back to 1989.