Lacey Act

Chimp Smuggler Sentenced

Posted 7/8/25

Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, the owner of Myrtle Beach Safari and a figure featured in a popular Netflix documentary, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for conspiring to violate the Lacey Act and laundering over $500,000. The charges stem from the illegal sale of endangered wildlife — including chimpanzees, lions, cheetahs, and tigers — and laundering funds believed to be tied to migrant smuggling.

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