How the FBI used a confidential informant to gather evidence against Doc Antle

 CI: “Ok, then I mean, is that something… you trust her?”

Antle: “Like 100%. It will be a check from me… No, I’ll do it. I’ll write you the check. I will get the other money back to her. She will cover me because she does other stuff with me for years.”

Because of Antle’s willingness to engage in laundering activity, the FBI set up a covert business name and bank account in the name of the covert business, which offered no employees, storefront, goods or services, the affidavit said. Using FBI funds, the CI began to provide cash to Antle, who would launder it for the covert business.

The CI began meeting with Antle and Sawyer, and recorded the conversations. On three separate occasions, the CI delivered cash to Antle and Sawyer, and the pair would write him a check made out to the covert business that Sawyer and Antle attributed to the CI, minus the pair’s 15% washing fee. 

On February 8, 2022, the CI told Antle that the money to be laundered was coming from smuggling illegal immigrants into the country who would pay him $20,000 a head, and he struck a deal with Antle for their money laundering operation. Initially, Antle proposed laundering the money by inflating the number of visitors to the Myrtle Beach Safari, according to the transcript.

CI: “So there’s a check and write it to me.”

Antle: “Write a check for 229,500.”

CI: “Yeah.

Antle: “And you give me 270.”

CI: “Yeah.”

Antle: “It’s not the best deal.”

CI: “It is the best deal.”

Antle: “It’s not the best deal.” 

CI: “You’re getting 40,000 dollars, right.”

Antle: “Yeah, I’m getting cash.”

CI: “And you’re gonna get more soon.”