Feds: Ex-zookeeper offered cash from tiger sales for hit

[Judi Lynn]

Last edited Wed Dec 19, 2018, 03:02 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Associated Press

Feds: Ex-zookeeper offered cash from tiger sales for hit
Updated 5:42 pm CST, Tuesday, December 18, 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Federal prosecutors are accusing an ex-Oklahoma zookeeper and former gubernatorial candidate of trying to pay an FBI agent posing as a hit man with money from selling tigers.

Court documents filed Friday reveal details of what prosecutors say is a December 2017 recording of Joseph Maldonado-Passage, who goes by "Joe Exotic," negotiating with the undercover agent. The 55-year-old Maldonado-Passage is charged with trying to hire someone to kill the operator of a Florida-based animal sanctuary.

. . .

Maldonado-Passage also faces charges of killing tigers and selling cubs in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

. . .

Maldonado-Passage operated a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and ran unsuccessfully for Oklahoma governor this year.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Feds-Ex-zookeeper-offered-cash-from-tiger-sales-13476100.php

---

Earlier story:

'Joe Exotic' indicted for trying to hire someone to murder the CEO of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa
Posted: 9:44 PM, Sep 07, 2018 Updated: 10:14 PM, Sep 07, 2018
By: WFTS Webteam

. . .

Today Joe Schreibvogel Maldonado-Passage, aka “Joe Exotic,” was arrested after being indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on two counts of “murder for hire” for seeking to hire someone to murder Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue. Maldonado had made threats online over a period of years including a video of him shooting in the head a blow up doll dressed to look like Carole and an image hanging her in effigy. (See in video below)

“It is important to understand that this is not the isolated act of one crazy bad apple,” Baskin said. “A significant part of our mission has been to stop mistreatment and exploitation of big cats at roadside zoos, particularly those who rip tiger cubs from their mothers at birth to charge the public to pet and take photos with them. Because Big Cat Rescue has been a leader in working to stop what we view as abuse of big cats and been very effective in our work, I have received multiple death threats over the years, including at one point a number of snakes placed in my mailbox. According to the FBI, animal abuse is highly correlated with human-to-human violence.”

Maldonado ran, in our view, one of the most notorious cub petting roadside zoos in the country in Wynnewood, OK. Years ago he also operated a traveling exhibit that would bring cubs to malls throughout the Midwest and Southwest. When Big Cat Rescue educated the malls about the miserable life this created for the cubs and the malls started cancelling Maldonado’s traveling exhibit, Maldonado retaliated by renaming his traveling show “Big Cat Rescue Entertainment” in order to confuse the public into thinking the show was operated by Big Cat Rescue. In 2011 Big Cat Rescue sued for violations of its intellectual property rights and in 2013 was granted a consent judgment for over $1 million. Litigation to collect on the judgment has been ongoing since then in Oklahoma.

We are ENORMOUSLY grateful to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the FBI, the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma and the U.S. Marshall's Service for the many months of incredibly hard work that went into this investigation and arrest.

. . .

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-tampa/-joe-exotic-indicted-for-trying-to-hire-someone-to-murder-the-ceo-of-big-cat-rescue-in-tampa

[KWR65]

1. I never knew that zookeeping was such a tough job n/t

[Judi Lynn]

6. No kidding! Handling the tigers is minor compared to the danger from people!

Gotta have eyes in the back of your head and always wear a mullet. "Business up front, party in the back."

[shenmue]

2. Your post is titled 'Article title'

Might want to change it.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Whoa! That was creative, wasn't it?

I'll bet Chief Inspector Murphy spotted it! He's trained to notice irregularities, isn't he? That's why he's the Chief Inspector.

Very proud to have changed it, finally.

Thanks.

[shenmue]

13. Heehee

[iluvtennis]

3. Lock his ass up and throw away the key.

[trueblue2007]

4. do to him ..... what he did to those innocent beautiful tigers ....

[Judi Lynn]

8. Undoubtedly they were in their tiny cages as he did it.

That should teach them to trust a "human."

It NEVER ends well when a monster gets power over someone helpless. Never. Impossible. It's a shame it can ever happen.

Hope in the next world everything will be made right.

Gotta have hope.

[Judi Lynn]

7. "That's right." Lock him up!

He needs time to reflect on how ridiculous his career looks now, considering his next official acts, working to protect Trump's "honor."
He made a total pile of garbage of himself.

[Glamrock]

9. Nothing says class

Like a bullet wound tattoo.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Went back to look for the tattoo after seeing your post. That is so STUPID! Good grief!

Couldn't believe it until seeing it.

So shabby.

[Polybius]

15. I still don't see it

Where is it?

[Glamrock]

17. Abdomen

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

16. I thought you were gonna say "mullet". 'Cause that's all class right there. Businesses in

the front. Party in the back.

[Adrahil]

18. That's one sweet-ass mullet! NT

[whathehell]

10. Love the 'do

Nothing like playing to type.

[Judi Lynn]

12. You see so many mullets, he had to do something to make his stand out. Yeah, for sure. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. I was going to say "why would a criminal draw attention to himself by running for office"

but then I realised who his role model is.