As reported, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, is known as the founder of Myrtle Beach Safari, a 50-acre wildlife preserve that offers “safari” tours and animal encounters to those willing to foot the bill, which can come in around $400 per person. He is also the director of the Rare Species Fund, a South Carolina-based nonprofit.

Antle appeared in the popular “Tiger King” docuseries on Netflix, where he gained fame for his colorful lifestyle, full of exotic animals and many women. However, the spotlight shone on him by Netflix also illuminated some of his illegal dealings.  The series brought to light the black-market deals and money schemes that run rampant in the big cat breeding world, turning the public eye to Antle’s own activities.

Recently, Antle appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Dawson III in Charleston for a sentencing hearing on charges of money laundering. He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for conspiracy and money laundering charges. Antle was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his prison sentence, as well as a $55,000 fine.

Antle admitted to conspiring to violate The Lacey Act, which involves trafficking in illegally taken wildlife or federally protected species.

Court documents reveal illegal transfer of protected species documents filed in the case have revealed several instances in which Antle trafficked in rare animals. In 2019, the documents show that Antle paid someone to venture to Florida and pay roughly $35,000 for two juvenile cheetahs. In January the following year, documents show Antle selling two lion cubs to an organization for $15,000. Also in 2019, he made payments totaling $10,000 to the Rare Species Fund in exchange for two tigers, which were then transported from South Carolina to Montana that March. Then, in 2020, documents reveal that a juvenile chimpanzee was transported from Florida to Myrtle Beach Safari, and that Antle then paid $200,000 in cash and checks in return.

Antle requested that payments for these endangered species, which are all protected under the Endangered Species Act, to be made to his nonprofit, where they would appear as “donations.”

He also used bulk cash payments and falsified paperwork to hide the transactions, making them appear as non-commercial transfers all taking place within one state.

An investigation into Antle found evidence that he was involved in money laundering between February and April 2022. Antle and his co-conspirator and employee Andrew Jon Sawyer of Myrtle Beach, conducted transactions with money they believed was obtained from the transport of undocumented immigrants over the Mexican border, according to a Justice Department release. Antle and Sawyer were found to have laundered $505,000 in total.

The money was laundered by providing checks from businesses run by Antle and Sawyer, falsely stating they were remitted for construction work at Myrtle Beach Safari. The pair would write checks after taking a 15% fee with each transaction. Antle also allegedly revealed plans to conceal money by falsely inflating tourism numbers at Myrtle Beach Safari.

After being arrested for money laundering, Antle allegedly tried to sell Myrtle Beach Safari in 2022, resulting in the federal government filing a motion to modify his bond. Court documents show that Antle allegedly tried to sell the safari to Sugriva Co. LLC, a company formed by his wife days after his arrest.

According to documents, the bond modification requested that Antle be banned from transferring the title of Myrtle Beach Safari or any animal protected under the Endangered Species Act. In the same month, Antle’s nonprofit Rare Species Fund was put under a “suspended” status by the South Carolina Secretary of State’s office, rendering it unable to accept any contributions.

Felony Counts in Virginia

In October 2020, Antle was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts alongside Keith Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Virginia, for trafficking lion cubs between Wilson’s park and Myrtle Beach Safari. The trafficking was uncovered in an investigation by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s Animal Law Unit. Antle was charged with a felony count for wildlife trafficking and a second felony count for wildlife trafficking conspiracy. He was also charged with four misdemeanor counts for conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act and nine animal cruelty misdemeanor counts.

His daughters Tawny Antle and Tilakum Watterson were also facing misdemeanor counts at the time for cruelty to animals and violating the endangered species act.

Florence grand jury indictment in June 2022

Antle was indicted by a federal grand jury in Florence for wildlife trafficking and money laundering. He was charged alongside four others, including Sawyer and the general manager of Myrtle Beach Safari, Moksha Bybee. The two others charged, Charles Sammut of California and Jason Clay of Texas, also owned and operated exotic animal attractions in their respective states.

Conclusion

It is impossible to truly know what the totality of facts are or where the precipice of the turn occurred, but based on the plea deals it appears clear that it did.  This space was an unique attraction for the area with many public appearances occurring through the year for our community.  Many people involved in legal situations are not bad people, just caught up in doing bad things or misunderstood things.  There are multiple interpretations of their actions that based on who is telling the story portrays the emotion they desire, as these headlines demonstrate:

“Ont. man charged with assault used knife, court docs say”

(https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/ont-man-charged-with-assaulting-home-intruder-used-knife-court-docs-say/)

-OR-

“Canadian police charge homeowner with aggravated assault for attacking burglar who broke into his home at 3am”

(https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15022175/homeowner-charges-assault-attack-burglar-ontario-canada.html)

Don’t be to quick to judge another.  As the Wisest Person known to man said:

“Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone at her” (John 8:7).

The role of the Criminal Court is both punishment and rehabilitation.  Without grace and love, then there is no reason for those with the most need, to know there is hope in becoming a rule abiding member of society.

Instead of remembering your best moments, try remembering what you had to learn from your worst when you work with those in need. Empathy carries great weight.