MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Myrtle Beach Safari owner and former “Tiger King” star Bhagavan “Doc” Antle will no longer have a sentencing hearing next week, according to federal court documents.
Antle was set to be sentenced on Aug. 27 in U.S. District Court in Florence in connection with federal conspiracy and money laundering charges. Antle’s and co-defendant Jason Clay’s cancellations were granted on Tuesday.
Another co-defendant, Andrew Jon Sawyer, also had his Aug. 27 sentencing hearing canceled on Thursday. Sawyer’s motion asked to be sentenced on the same day as Antle and Clay.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office told News13 on Thursday it “couldn’t say as to why” Antle’s hearing was canceled but are “hoping to get it back on the calendar soon.”
Antle pleaded guilty to the charges in November. He was sentenced in Virginia the month before in a separate wildlife trafficking case.
Antle, 63, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and conspiracy to launder money, the DOJ said in a news release. The Lacey Act prohibits trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish or plants, including animals protected under the Endangered Species Act.