), has been indicted on animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking in Virginia, the states attorney general announced on Friday. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. he was indicted in Virginia on 15 charges. An award-winning journalist, he has reported on all types of news, sports and features stories in over a decade as a member of the staff. They now have Hercules, the 900 pound liger! Ive always dreamt of going on an African Safari, and someday I hope to make that dream come true. After the cats were sent away, the wolf cubs were brought out. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina, Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, and Others Indicted for Federal Wildlife Trafficking and Money Laundering Crimes, Anderson Man Sentenced for Asbestos Violation, Arizona Developer Agrees to Resolve Long-Running Clean Water Act Enforcement Action for Over One Million Dollars, Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, and Others Indicted For Federal Wildlife Trafficking and Money Laundering Crimes. 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. Have a question about Government Services? Myrtle Beach Safari owner Mahamayavi Bhagavan "Doc" Antle. Not as soft as the other animals, but certainly fun to watch! His nephew, Christian DallAcqua, was found guilty of 19 misdemeanor counts. His credits include films like Ace Ventura, Dr. Doolittle, Mighty Joe Young, Disneys Jungle Book and many, many more. Antle founded The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S. Made with @triller #triller pic.twitter.com/kYmWO1462M, Made with @triller #triller pic.twitter.com/kFqH6lCd3b. Bhagavan Mahamayavi Antle, aka Kevin Antle, aka Doc Antle, 62, of Myrtle Beach; Andrew Jon Sawyer aka Omar Sawyer, 52, of Myrtle Beach; Meredith Bybee, aka Moksha Bybee, 51, of Myrtle Beach; Charles Sammut, 61, of Salinas, California; and. After meeting Bubbles, we got to hold some gibbons and a lemur!! Antle also has a history of recorded violations, stretching as far back as 1989, when he was fined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for abandoning deer and peacocks at his zoo in Virginia. Earlier this month, Antles wife China York registered two businesses both with addresses listed as Myrtle Beach Safari. 25 results for "owner of myrtle beach safari and cult bigamist" hide this ad. Get A Personalized Message From Doc Antle, Get A Personalized Message From Kody Antle, Address: P.O. While closed earlier this year due to the pandemic, the safaris website indicates that it is back accepting visitors. An official website of the United States government. "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" 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. The animals involved included lemurs, cheetahs, and a chimpanzee. High 64F. Because the animals are so comfortable around each other, Myrtle Beach Safari has the first ever Liger. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS That case is scheduled for a trial later this year. Antle was made famous in the hit Netflix series Tiger King. Myrtle Beach Safari owner Doc Antle believes season 2 of Netflix docu-series Tiger King will be salacious. 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. ), a world-renowned 50-acre wildlife preserve located in South Bybee, Sammut and Clay each face up to five years in federal prison for the charges related to the wildlife trafficking. "When I met (Antle) I had two husbands, and he had three girlfriends or wives," said Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage. Charleston:(843) 727-4381 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. Myrtle Beach Safari owner featured in Tiger King pleads not guilty in federal wildlife trafficking case, VIDEO: Man hospitalized after Beaufort Co. shooting, publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555. 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. All rights reserved. He ultimately faces charges only on those that deal with animals. 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), also known as the Myrtle Beach Safari. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre wildlife tropical preserve in Myrtle Beach. Sawyer and Bybee are Antles employees and business associates. Keith and I had the best time and I just couldnt stop smiling! 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. Tour & Activity Pricing & Photo Packages - Myrtle Beach Safari Hes also accused of illegally trafficking animals including lemurs, cheetahs and a chimpanzee. 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. Tiger King is by no means a documentary. Outdoor Fun and Drive-In Movies at Quarry Park Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals for Multigenerational My Mother-in-law and her Siblings Take On Hofsas House Why You Need to See Hamilton in San Francisco. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Ligers used to be a myth, but a tiger mama and a lion father unintentionally mated here. When else will you get to hold a tiger cub? Federal documents also claim that Antle and his business associate, Andrew Sawyer, laundered over $500,000 in cash they believed to be the proceeds of an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants across the Mexican border into the United States. Today, Doc is widely recognized as one of the foremost animal trainers in the world, having worked with thousands of animals and having traveled the globe promoting the research, education, and conservation of some of our planets rarest and most endangered species. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. They run that story pretty good. A spokesperson for the FBI said that it cannot provide information on if the businesses are part of an investigation. The animals are taken from their moms when they are minutes old and once they get older they are put down, sold to other roadside zoos, or canned hunts. Then we got to watch them paint t-shirts that are sold for conservation efforts to save the chimpanzees! He was indicted in October 2020 following a months-long investigation by the Virginia Attorney Generals animal law unit, according to a news release from the office. ), To this day, Antle has maintained his innocence as well as the innocence of all of his family members in relation to the case. Columbia, SC 29201, Columbia:(803) 929-3000 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. Antle called The Doc Antle Story poorly done, though he thought the original Tiger King was well-done despite being what hes called entertainment and not a true documentary. Advertisement. When we were planning our visit to Myrtle Beach, I was expecting a lot of miniature golf and beach time. Netflixs Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story alleges that Antle runs his zoo like a cult leader. When I say 'my girl,' its a cowboy saying, its not that these are my wives," he told Oxygen.com. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, Antle had only nice things to say about his friend. 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. You have permission to edit this article. FLORENCE, S.C. (WMBF) One of the stars of Netflixs Tiger King pleaded not guilty to several federal charges. I visited this location years ago (not a recent trip) and Im guessing you just got your information from the new Netflix series. CLUE. However, the docu-series focuses mostly on Antles personal life. 2 in charge at his Virginia zoo, Mark Mitra Topping, off a cliff, where he fell to his death. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. MBS is masquerading as a legitimate wildlife preserve and endangered species conservator but real wildlife preserves and endangered species conservators never allow public encounters or photo ops with wild animals; they never buy or sell wild animals; they never breed wild animals unless they are in an AZA-approved SSP program (which MBS is not); and they never cart wild animals to fairs or other venues for entertainment. Clay is the owner and operator of the Franklin Drive Thru Safari, a for-profit corporation that housed captive exotic species and sold tours and safari experiences to guests. RSF projects optimize the prospects for preserving endangered species; for releasing captive animals into suitable, protected habitats; and, for expanding awareness of the ties between humans and the natural world. The owner of Myrtle Beach Safari faces two felony charges and more than a dozen misdemeanors after authorities say he and another zoo operator trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina. Sammut is the owner and The indictment and a previously-filed federal complaint in the case also allege that over the last several months, Antle and Sawyer laundered more than $500,000 in cash they believed to be the proceeds of an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants across the Mexican border into the United States. Smothers filed a lawsuit against Antle earlier this year, alleging that the animal bite traumatized her and caused her to experience anxiety and paranoia. Doc has worked on over 500 films, documentaries, TV shows and advertisements of all kinds. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. What I didnt anticipate was getting up close and personal with wild animals. Please do not promote Myrtle Beach Safari, an abusive petting zoo and constant violator of animal welfare regulations whose owner has just been indicted on 15 charges including cruelty to animals and wildlife trafficking. Have a question about Government Services? Antle, a key figure in the popular Netflix series Tiger King, is accused of trafficking lion cubs between Virginia and Myrtle Beach Safari. 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. Animal cruelty. Greenville:(864) 282-2100 Doc Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari and The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - The owner of the Myrtle Beach Safari is now behind bars, according to online records. Refresh Page Error: a1db0b0a4d764397a6fa91cc8e6c2771 Official websites use .gov Florence:(843) 665-6688. It is the greatest story ever told that didnt happen. The charges are related to lion cubs transported from a Virginia facility, Wilsons Wild Animal Park, to Antles facility in Myrtle Beach, also known as The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.). The animals involved included lemurs, cheetahs and a chimpanzee. Smothers had to receive eight rabies shots due to the bite. During the hearing, it was revealed Antle is being charged with three additional counts of wildlife trafficking as well as one count of a label violation. In November 2020, PETA filed a complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Greenville:(864) 282-2100 The safari works in tandem with Antles Rare Species Fund (RSF), a grassroots organization that claims to work with state and federal authorities to develop conservation initiatives. I certainly dont have three wives," Antle said in March. 1441 Main Street Suite 500 Hes magnificent! The saga of Tiger King continues, but this time the spotlight is on Bhagavan Doc Antle. Antles biggest moment in Tiger King is during the second of seven episodes, where Joe Exotic says Antle was his mentor. 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. Antle has not addressed the show or the allegations, and you wouldnt even know the series existed based on his Instagram. 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. 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. Sawyer and Bybee are Antles employees and business associates. Mahamayavi Bhagavan Doc Antle is the founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S. All Rights Reserved. By Laura Donaldson The claims come on the heels of accusations of animal cruelty against Antle. Thank you very much for your attention to this message. Sammut is the owner and operator of Vision Quest Ranch, a for-profit corporation that housed captive exotic species and sold tours and safari experiences to guests. Running from the police. We got to watch her eat an entire watermelon, drink, and we fed her carrots. File/Provided. From a very young age, Doc began raising and caring for every animal that he could get his hands on. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Copyright 2014. 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. He was hanging around, but he narrates the show as if he has a personal relationship.. I love a tiger, but Im not challenging mountains. Also arrested Friday was William James Dallis. But many have asserted that Myrtle Beach Safari and RSF dont live up to their stated goals. We did get to play with the cubs, but the daddies just walked around above our heads, for us to awe over. (Tawny was arrested again on Dec. 1, 2021 for the unlawful possession of a pistol, but was later released. These guys are just all around bigger than dogs. A locked padlock The animal cruelty indictments allege he carried or caused the lions to be carried in a cruel, brutal, or inhumane manner, so as to produce torture or unnecessary suffering.. But seriously, lemurs are so incredibly soft! Myrtle Beach Safari owner Mahamayavi Bhagavan Doc Antle. File/Provided Subscribe today! According to a press release, Antle, 62, and his employee Andrew Omar Jon Sawyer, 52, laundered $505,000 cash that they believed to be the proceeds of an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants across the border. 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. But everybody does that who meets me. field59.ipo = { RANK. Myrtle Beach Safari offers the chance to meet and greet about eleven different animals in an exciting way. The U.S. Attorney's Office is asking for them to remain detained. 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. "dfpConfig": { A visit to this safari is not something I would be advertising on the internet. 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