'Tiger King' Subject Arrested for Money Laundering

Another Tiger King phenomenon is down for the count. TMZ reports that Doc Antle, who found fame along with other Tiger King stars such as Carole Baskins and Joe Exotic, has been arrested in South Carolina. The report notes the 52-year-old – whose real name is Bhagavan Antle – was booked by the FBI on June 3, 2022, in Horry County, South Carolina. In a recent update, federal law enforcement sources close to the investigation allege the charges have to do with money laundering and he'll be in court this week to face a judge and be handed his official charges. The Associated Press reports that Antle is expected to appear in court Monday.

Antle has been in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway, South Carolina since the arrest, the AP reports. The charges will be formally announced during a court proceeding Monday afternoon in Florence, South Carolina. The charges relate to allegations of money laundering, a person familiar with the matter told the AP. The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Antle is the owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, which gained notoriety due to the celebrities who have visited the safari. This isn't Antle's first time being in legal trouble. In October 2020, he was indicted in Virginia for felony wildlife trafficking after an investigation uncovered evidence he trafficked lion cubs between South Carolina and Virginia. He told TMZ at the time: "I am terribly shocked and disappointed at the charges that have been filed against me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and how they have sought to involve my daughters in this matter. I categorically deny any act or conduct that could ever be considered as 'animal cruelty.'"

Of course, animal and wildlife advocates such as PETA have been against Antle and his work. In August 2021, people were in an uproar after Antle allowed Chris Brown's young daughter Royal to take a joy ride on an elephant's giant noggin. PETA found it to be irresponsible and dangerous and wanted him investigated. Other celebrities such as Larsa Pippen and famous athletes visited as well. 

In May, PETA asked the IRS to probe Antle's Rare Species Fund, a nonprofit raising money for wildlife conservation. PETA alleges he uses some of the fund's money to subsidize his safari site in Socastee outside Myrtle Beach.

"It's fitting that "Doc" Antle is behind bars after years of locking up the endangered animals he uses in tawdry photo ops. His legal woes are mounting, as PETA recently blew the whistle on his apparent 'charity' scam, and the end to his reign of terrorizing tiger cubs can't come soon enough," said Debbie Metzler, associate director of PETA's Captive Animal Law Enforcement division, in a statement.