GRADY COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – The ‘Tiger King’ is as soon as once more asking for a presidential pardon after he says he’s displaying indicators of most cancers.
In 2018, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, higher often known as “Joe Unique” and former proprietor of the Higher Wynnewood Animal Park, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of murder-for-hire.
Prosecutors say Maldonado-Passage gave an individual $3,000 to journey from Oklahoma to Florida to hold out the homicide of massive cat activist Carole Baskin and “allegedly agreed to pay 1000’s extra after the deed,” stated the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Western District of Oklahoma.
A grand jury additionally indicted Maldonado-Passage on an extra 19 counts of wildlife fees, together with the violation of the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act.
Prosecutors say he shot and killed 5 tigers in October 2017 to make room in cages for different massive cats, and offered tiger cubs to boost cash.
He was additionally accused of falsifying data referring to the tigers, lions and a child lemur which have been purportedly being donated or transported for exhibition, however have been truly offered.
Officers supplied proof within the type of recordings of Maldonado-Passage negotiating the hiring of an undercover FBI agent, who was posing as a hitman. When speaking about fee, Maldonado-Passage reportedly stated, “I’ll simply promote a bunch of tigers.”
The meant goal of the hit was Carole Baskin, a chief critic of Maldonado-Passage. Baskin efficiently sued Maldonado-Passage for trademark infringement in 2011, and was outspoken in regards to the remedy of animals on the park.
The protection claimed their consumer was framed. They are saying he was all discuss and had no intention of wanting Baskin lifeless.
The previous Higher Wynnewood Animal Park proprietor was discovered responsible on all counts in 2019.
He was in the end sentenced to a complete of twenty-two years in jail for all the convictions. Officers say he was sentenced to 9 years in jail for every of the murder-for-hire convictions, and 4 years for the wildlife violations.
In January, Joe Unique was assured that he would obtain a pardon from former President Donald Trump.
Nonetheless, that pardon by no means got here.
Now, Joe Unique says his lawyer is engaged on a brand new presidential pardon after he says he’s displaying indicators of most cancers.
“John Philips has acquired my medical data from FMC Fort Value and my PSA rely got here again very excessive for prostate most cancers. The jail has accredited testing to confirm what stage it’s in. My physique is drained, I’ve misplaced an incredible quantity of weight, the mouth sores are uncontrolled, I throw up greater than I eat. I do not need anybody’s pity what I want is when John Phillips will get the proof he’s engaged on, I want the world to assist him get President Biden, VP Harris and the Legal professional Basic to hearken to the proof and see that it isn’t simply metropolis cops uncontrolled with corruption, however his very personal Division of Justice and make this proper and signal that pardon that Trump left behind so I can go dwelling and get correct medical care and correct meals. Thanks for all of the love and help from everywhere in the world. I like you all. Want me luck,” Maldonado-Passage posted on Twitter.
Maldonado-Passage says he has an appointment with an oncologist later this month, the place a biopsy shall be carried out.
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