Doc Antle of Myrtle Beach Safari, ‘Tiger King’ charged with wildlife trafficking

According to the indictment, Antle and Sammut trafficked red ruffed lemurs “knowing that the wildlife had been transported and sold in violation of federal law, specifically the Endangered Species Act.” 

Antle and Bybee created a “false record, account, label, and identification” of two juvenile cheetahs, and then transported the cheetahs “in interstate commerce in the course of commercial activity,” the indictment states.

Antle and Clay created “a false record, account, label, and identification of” a juvenile chimpanzee and then transported the chimpanzee “in interstate commerce in the course of a commercial activity,” according to the indictment.

In the indictment, authorities said the government will seek forfeiture, upon conviction, all fish, wildlife and plants that were illegally imported, exported, transported, sold, acquired or purchased, all vessels, vehicles, aircraft and other equipment used to aid in any such offense, and to the extent the property isn’t available, “a sum of money equal to the total value of the property.” 

The government said if the property has been sold or transferred to a third party, has diminished in value, co-mingled with other property or is out of the jurisdiction of the court, the defendants if convicted “shall forfeit substituted property…” 

Antle and Sawyer were both already granted bond by a federal magistrate judge as a result of the charges in the federal complaint. Derek Shoemake with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Antle will be summoned to the court and likely granted bond. 

Shoemake said the other defendants will also appear via summons, except Clay, for whom an arrest warrant has been issued.

Doc Antle and his daughter, Tawny Antle, are also facing charges in Virginia under the endangered species act, and Doc Antle is also facing a charge of wildlife trafficking in connection with that case.