The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Joseph "Joe Exotic" Maldonado-Passage, keeping in place his conviction for murder-for-hire, according to court records.
Background
Maldonado-Passage, better known as "Joe Exotic" from the Netflix documentary series "Tiger King," was convicted in 2020 on multiple charges including two counts of murder-for-hire. The conviction stemmed from his attempt to hire a hitman to kill Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist and owner of Big Cat Rescue, according to federal prosecutors.
The case drew massive public attention following the 2020 release of the Netflix documentary "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," which chronicled the rivalry between Maldonado-Passage and Baskin.
The Charges
Maldonado-Passage was convicted of two counts of murder-for-hire conspiracy, eight counts of violating the Endangered Species Act by killing five tigers, and nine Lacey Act violations involving wildlife trafficking. He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence that Maldonado-Passage paid an undercover FBI agent $3,000 to kill Baskin, whom he referred to as his "enemy" during recorded conversations.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case leaves Maldonado-Passage's conviction intact
- He is currently serving a 22-year federal prison sentence
- The case originated from his rivalry with Carole Baskin over big cat ownership
- The conviction was secured in federal court in 2020
What's Next
Maldonado-Passage will continue serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Worth, Texas. His conviction remains final unless he pursues additional legal avenues.