They will remain in jail until they go before a judge on Thursday. A federal grand jury in Florence, South Carolina returned a 10-count indictment alleging charges related to wildlife trafficking and money laundering against five individuals: According to the indictment and other court records, Antle is the owner and operator of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S. Its not my M.O., The series also tells tales of Antles hypnotizing ways, drug smuggling and dealing, improper interactions with teenage girls, animal cruelty, running from the police and being a fake doctor in the 1980s, when he was part of what they describe as a cult called Yogaville.. Follow him on Twitter at @nickmasudaphoto. var field59 = field59 || {}; RSF also works closely with state, federal, and international bodies to develop and support sound wildlife policies and to secure sustained funding for long-term research, education, and conservation initiatives. }; More details surrounding Myrtle Beach Safari owner Doc Antle have been released. In 2015, Antle told Rolling Stone that he breeds 10 to 15 new cubs every season to sustain operations, and that there are about 70 tigers on site that each eat $5,000 to $10,000 worth of food a year. I love a tiger, but Im not challenging mountains. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Now is your chance to see it, Has The Resident Been Renewed For Season 7? I would have loved to see him run, but he did walk right past me. Its mentioned in the show that Antle did not attend Toppings funeral. Netflixs Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story alleges that Antle runs his zoo like a cult leader. An official website of the United States government. Doc is frequently consulted and appears as a world-renowned on-screen wildlife expert for networks like the National Geographic Channel, BBC, Discovery Channel, and CNN. Thats what I sell, Antle said. These guys are just all around bigger than dogs. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. I certainly am a single guy and I live in a house by myself.". Kai The Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker Was Arrested Months After His Viral Interview, Everyone Who Went To Jail For The Bernie Madoff Scandal, Netflix's Latest True-Crime Docuseries Dives Into A $65 Billion Ponzi Scheme, This New Dating Show Is Netflix's Answer To 'Bachelor In Paradise', Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Theyre just making up their ideas.. Doc Antle may have some iffy relationships, but that has nothing to do with the treatment of the animals. That case is scheduled for a trial later this year. Hes halfway down a mountain when he slips. The trainers are always there to help keep the cats moving so everyone gets a turn with each animal, and to make sure everyone is safe. There are others in the In October 2020, he was indicted in Virginia on 15 charges of wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty following a months-long investigation into his dealings with private zoo owner Keith Wilson, who Antle sold lions to across state lines. We have a very long road ahead of us. He also rejected the idea that he had created a personal harem for himself with the young female interns at the Safari. Doc Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari and The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S. He said in the past he used bulk cash receipts to purchase animals for which he could not use checks. Antle and Sawyer were arrested June 3 and are incarcerated at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County. However, the docu-series focuses mostly on Antles personal life. Two of Antles daughters have also been charged in Virginia, with Tawny Antle and Tilakum Watterson both facing two misdemeanor counts cruelty to animals and violating the Endangered Species Act. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A safari can run $339 per person for a three-hour tour of Antles collection of big cats and other animals, while also giving patrons a chance to pet tiger cubs for an additional $100. Sawyer and Bybee are Antles employees and business associates. He is facing felony charges in Virginia related to illegal wildlife trafficking. Everyone who told the truth was kicked to the wayside, Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari in Socastee, said of the Netflix docu-series casting. Only those who would take payment for their life stories got to be in the show. My heart did race a little because after all, he is a wild cat! But many have asserted that Myrtle Beach Safari and RSF dont live up to their stated goals. Sawyer and Bybee are Antles employees and business associates. One of Antles ex-wives, Sumati Steinberg, says in the show that she was supposed to go on a date with Topping the day he died, May 28, 1989. Everyone who told the truth was kicked to the wayside, Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari in Socastee, said of the Netflix docu-series casting. Myrtle Beach Safari owner Mahamayavi Bhagavan "Doc" Antle. Official websites use .gov After confirming to police that the primate was from his facility, Antle later denied the animal was his, suggesting that people were confused by what they saw. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The animal ambassadors at T.I.G.E.R.S. When else will you get to hold a tiger cub? ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Hes one of 30 or 40 full-time staff. Columbia, SC 29201, Columbia:(803) 929-3000 According to Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, the states Animal Law Unit had been investigating the trafficking and cruelty for months. FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) Myrtle Beach Safari owner Bhagavan Doc Antle, facing federal money-laundering and wildlife trafficking charges, was back in court Wednesday Doc Antles son, Kody Antle, was introduced in Tiger King. Antle, 60, faces multiple felony counts, including one for wildlife trafficking and one for conspiracy to wildlife traffic; four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act; and nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Although Antle has claimed to have a PhD in zoology, two of his former wives and other former staff members stated that he never attained a PhD, they also stated that he never went to a Myrtle Beach Safari owner, Tiger King star charged with animal cruelty in Virginia, Irene Clodfelter pleads guilty to obstructing justice in husband's Myrtle Beach-area death, Parent sues SC school district in wake of principal, teacher abuse arrests, Myrtle Beach tourism season expected to remain steady despite economic uncertainty, Brookgreen Gardens soon to be home to pack of endangered red wolves, The Berkeley Independent - Moncks Corner, SC, By Nick Masuda ), a world-renowned 50-acre wildlife preserve located in South Ride-along: What does it take to run a Charleston food truck? U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina, Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, and Employee Charged with Federal Money Laundering Crimes, antle-mahamayavi_et_al_complaint_unsealed.pdf, Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, and Employee Charged With Federal Money Laundering Crimes. Bhagavan Mahamayavi Antle, a/k/a Kevin Antle, a/k/a Doc Antle, 62, of Myrtle Beach; Andrew Jon Sawyer a/k/a Omar Sawyer, 52, of Myrtle Beach; Meredith Bybee, a/k/a Moksha Bybee, 51, of Myrtle Beach; Charles Sammut, 61, of Salinas, California; and. Lock Tiger King is by no means a documentary. I have no relationship with them. Ligers used to be a myth, but a tiger mama and a lion father unintentionally mated here. I visited this location years ago (not a recent trip) and Im guessing you just got your information from the new Netflix series. In a 2020 interview with People, he described the 50-acre property as the Ritz-Carlton of wildlife facilities.". "That's not a documentary,"Antle told The Post and Courier in March, describing the series as "quasi-fictional drama, more focused on shock value and titillation than fact.". After the cats were sent away, the wolf cubs were brought out. As a young man he also had the opportunity to travel and explore the world and spent a significant amount of time in Asia where he received a doctorate degree in medicine. Unlike a zoo where all the animals are behind fences and barriers, the animals are brought right next to you, or even into your lap! Antle also discussed plans to conceal the cash by inflating the number of visitors to Myrtle Beach Safari. Copyright 2022 WMBF. Bring it on. Female recruits must be single and childless, and must be within 20 pounds of their perfect athletic weight or working to get there. In return, they live on the compound and get a small weekly stipend. Doc is very happy to be back at home and care for his animals, thats what its all about.. There are others in the show who said Topping was owed tens of thousands of dollars and wanted out of the animal business, implying that perhaps that would be Antles motivation to kill him. Being a fake doctor. While Tiger King brought into question his motivations for his work with wildlife, Antle was quick to debunk the accusations of euthanizing tigers as baseless. 1441 Main Street Suite 500 The same investigation led authorities to seize 119 animals from Keith A. Wilson of Wilson's Wild Animal Park in Virginia. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. High 64F. We look forward to fighting these charges. In 2020, Antle was charged with nine counts of cruelty to animals, six counts of selling endangered species and two wildlife trafficking charges. Official websites use .gov He also mentions that two of his kids who he had with two of the ex-wives live with him now and love him. viewers are sure to recognize new presenter Kamie Crawford, who recently opened up about her own breakup, following Terrence J's exit. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Who Is the YouTuber That Pranked Major News Channel With Moaning Noises. He is also the founder of the Rare Species Fund (www.RareSpeciesFund.org), a grassroots organization that supports wildlife conservation projects in situ around the globe. Lock We were slightly nervous of claws and teeth, but it was so thrilling to play with these little guys. Smothers had to receive eight rabies shots due to the bite. Tour & Activity Pricing & Photo Packages - Myrtle Beach Safari He also said that many of the people interviewed in the original Tiger King and The Doc Antle Story he was barely featured in Tiger King 2 were portrayed as if they worked for him when that wasnt true. (Bustle reached out to Antle for comment on the series, but has not received a response). Reach Nick Masuda at 843-607-0912. In exchange, Antle and Sawyer received a 15% fee of any amount laundered. Antle was made famous in the hit Netflix series Tiger King. Next on the agenda was to gather the group around a small pen where we played with tiger cubs, lion cubs and lynx cubs. U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The biggest and most serious allegation that many in the show speculated about was that he pushed his friend and No. Antles Myrtle Beach Safari was searched by the State Law Enforcement Division in December 2019. Fish and Wildlife Service. Why Choose Resilient Flooring On Your Next Home CrateFull of Maine for a Curated Box of Maine Goodies, Quality Time in the Kitchen with Easy Apple Crisp. "It certainly is entertaining," he said at the time. However, Antle had only nice things to say about his friend. Next up was my favorite part and that was getting to feed and hug Bubbles, the elephant! Several of Antles previous partners are featured in The Doc Antle Story, including Betsy Brahmi Rogers, his first wife, and Sumati Steinberg and Radha Hirsch, who both allege Antle began sexual relationships with them when they were as young as 14. He pioneered the use of animal ambassador programs to help visitors reconnect with the natural world and to promote special connections with wildlife that could drive a global conservation message and agenda. The indictment alleges that Antle, at various times along with Bybee, Sammut, and Clay, illegally trafficked wildlife in violation of federal law, including the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act, and made false records regarding that wildlife. Accommodations are available for up to 20 guests in six rooms. Guests must be participating in an experience at the Myrtle Beach Safari to stay at the Safari Manor. This VIP lodging stay will include airport pickup, transportation to any Safari activities, and VIP tour check-in. Before lunch and getting our photos to take home, we played with some beach balls with a few chimpanzees! He was hanging around, but he narrates the show as if he has a personal relationship.. } } Bhagavan Doc Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, will be in court Monday afternoon. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. He falls off a cliff and dies and they push you for a long time that he was murdered for some reason, Antle said of the docu-series narrative in episode 3, the finale. I have a lot of people writing me and saying that now they know I will go to jail for this murder of my friend who fell off of a cliff.. Doc Antle has had Bubbles since she was a baby, and they have a pretty special bond. I was not at his side. According to Antle, the animals require more than 1,000 pounds of meat daily, something that has been a struggle to provide during COVID-19 although he believed Tiger King would likely bring more people to the preserve. And in the end they say Oops. From a very young age, Doc began raising and caring for every animal that he could get his hands on. Antle faced plenty of scrutiny after Netflixs true-crime show Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, although he was quick to debunk the accusations, claiming that the series wasnt a documentary. Sammut is the owner Im not married and I certainly dont have wives. According to the complaint, which was unsealed today in a federal courtroom in Florence, Antle is the owner and operator of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S), also known as the Myrtle Beach Safari. By Laura Donaldson Per Myrtle Beach Online, most of RSFs money has been spent on animal ambassadors based within Myrtle Beach Safari as in, it appears Antle is using money brought in through his nonprofit to fund his own zoo. The series ends with a very brief mention of serious charges Antle is facing in Virginia. The animals involved included lemurs, cheetahs and a chimpanzee. The filings allege that Antle had used bulk cash receipts to purchase animals for which he could not use checks, and that Antle planned to conceal the cash he received by inflating tourist numbers at the Myrtle Beach Safari. I categorically deny any act or conduct that could ever be considered as animal cruelty, Antle said in a statement, per The New York Times. Explore more crossword clues and answers by clicking on the results or quizzes. Doc has worked on over 500 films, documentaries, TV shows and advertisements of all kinds. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wetzel has won awards for sports column, feature and headline writing. Bhagavan Doc Antle, the owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, appeared in federal court Wednesday in Florence. These guys look a lot like dogs, but bigger and more fierce. Myrtle Beach Safari owner Doc Antle believes season 2 of Netflix docu-series Tiger King will be salacious. Copyright 2017 Myrtle Beach Safari. The small city hosting Alex Murdaugh's trial is about to become a media circus. Dallis' charges have not yet been publicly announced. Yeah, he was a background guy on a couple of jobs that had 30 or 40 full-time staff. When you pay for a TIGERS tour, proceeds will help support the Rare Species Fund (RSF), which provides support to international conservation programs around the globe. Main Office: All rights reserved. Antle and Sawyer each face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the charges related to money laundering, and up to five years in federal prison for the charges related to wildlife trafficking. The filings allege that Antle had used bulk cash receipts to purchase animals for which he could not use checks, and that Antle planned to conceal the cash he received by inflating tourist numbers at the Myrtle Beach Safari. The Virginia Animal Law Unit took 119 animals including lions, tigers, bears, camels and water buffalo into custody in August 2019 due to cruelty and neglect. They always show these pictures of these characters hugging tigers and feeding a monkey. I have spent my entire professional life promoting the welfare and conservation of big cats and other species.. Get A Personalized Message From Doc Antle, Get A Personalized Message From Kody Antle, Address: P.O. Only those who would take payment for their life stories got to be in the show., He falls off a cliff and dies and they push you for a long time that he was murdered for some reason, Antle said of the docu-series narrative in episode 3, the finale. Allow me to share why Myrtle Beach Safari is a must-see attraction! Antle and Sawyer were previously granted a bond by a federal magistrate judge as a result of the charges in the federal complaint, and Bybee, Sammut, and Clay are pending arraignment. They all live on the property with him, but Antle asserted that hes not married to any of them. Strikers protest Dollar General store in Irmo, sign of latest labor advocacy in SC, Legendary football coach Jerry Brown out at Berkeley High School, Hot chicken taking over Columbia restaurant spot; new coffee place gets ready to brew, South Carolina Supreme Court on track to be all male for the first time in 35 years, Several cadets at SC National Guard youth academy hospitalized after 'incident', Details for Donald Trump's first SC 2024 presidential campaign event announced. I had no idea Myrtle Beach had such an experience, and it appears many are unaware. His credits include films like Ace Ventura, Dr. Doolittle, Mighty Joe Young, Disneys Jungle Book and many, many more. The adult wolves had more of a striking difference some with golden eyes, and their snouts were bigger. The episode focuses on staffing at big cat businesses and how long hours can lead some to become intimately involved with the owners. "prerollTemplate":"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/132916964,50847294/wfxb.com/uncategorized&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&vpos=preroll&unviewed_position_start=1&correlator=1674054655&cust_params=category=Uncategorized&video_position=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wfxb.com%2F2022%2F06%2F22%2Ftwo-new-businesses-registered-at-myrtle-beach-safari-address%2F&post=1182829" His appearance Wednesday was for an arraignment, where the defendant is formally advised of the charges against him and asked to enter a plea. There are plenty of immoral allegations against Bhagavan Doc Antle in Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story.. Antles biggest moment in Tiger King is during the second of seven episodes, where Joe Exotic says Antle was his mentor. CLUE. Today was nothing we did not expect., said Ryan Beasley, Antles attorney. Hes magnificent! The Humane Society of the United States has also spoken out against Myrtle Beach Safari. Copyright 2014. Charleston:(843) 727-4381 However, as Antle pointed out, the show itself appears to discount the allegation when Paul Lewis, who accompanied Topping to Crabtree Falls, where he died, said that Toppings chance-taking ways were what led to his death. 2 in charge at his Virginia zoo, Mark Mitra Topping, off a cliff, where he fell to his death. Antles charges include felony counts of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking, along with misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act. The latest charges against Antle and Sawyer carry up to 20 years in prison. Co-Creator Teases Show Plans, Prince Harry Mocked by Adult Toy Company Over Penis Story: Too Far, Are You The One? 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