A federal jury in Oklahoma City on Tuesday found Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, formerly of Wynnewood, guilty on two counts of hiring someone to kill a sanctuary owner in Florida, eight counts of violating the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. He faces more than 60 years in prison when he is sentenced.
"The self-described Tiger King was not above the law," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. "Rather, the jury only needed a few hours of deliberation before finding him guilty of engaging in a murder-for-hire plot to kill a rival and violating federal laws intended to protect wildlife when he killed multiple tigers, sold tiger cubs, and falsified wildlife records. We are thankful for the jury's careful attention, deliberation and verdict in this case."