Joe Exotic

Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage
Born:	March 5, 1963 Garden City, Kansas
Charges:	Murder-for-hire, Wildlife trafficking
Sentence:	21 years
Facility:	FMC Fort Worth
Status:	Incarcerated; seeking pardon

Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage (born March 5, 1963), known as Joe Exotic, is an American former zoo operator and convicted felon who became a cultural phenomenon through the Netflix documentary "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness." Joe Exotic was convicted in 2019 of hiring hitmen, including an undercover FBI agent, to murder Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist and rival zoo owner. He was also convicted of wildlife trafficking offenses related to killing tigers at his Oklahoma zoo. He is currently serving a 21-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Despite multiple pardon requests to President Trump, Joe Exotic remains incarcerated as of November 2025.

Summary

Joe Exotic became one of the most unlikely celebrities of 2020 when "Tiger King" premiered on Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary chronicled his feud with Carole Baskin, his eccentric personality, his polygamous marriages, and his eventual conviction for plotting to have Baskin killed. The series became a cultural sensation, spawning countless memes and debates about exotic animal ownership in America.

Background

Joseph Maldonado-Passage was born in Garden City, Kansas, in 1963. He operated the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park (G.W. Zoo) in Oklahoma for decades, breeding and exhibiting big cats. He styled himself as a flamboyant personality, producing internet videos, recording country music, and running for political office. His long-running feud with Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue in Florida and advocated for banning private ownership of big cats, became an obsession that ultimately led to his downfall.

Criminal Case

Murder-for-Hire Plot

Prosecutors established that Joe Exotic paid two men to kill Carole Baskin. One of those men was an undercover FBI agent. Joe Exotic offered to pay $3,000 to have Baskin murdered, giving specific instructions about where she could be found.

Wildlife Charges

Joe Exotic was also charged with killing five tigers at his zoo to make room for more animals and with selling tiger cubs in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

Conviction and Sentencing

In April 2019, Joe Exotic was convicted on two counts of murder-for-hire and multiple wildlife trafficking counts. He was initially sentenced to 22 years. On resentencing, his term was reduced to 21 years.

Pardon Efforts

Joe Exotic has repeatedly sought a presidential pardon. He first requested clemency from President Trump in September 2020 and was reportedly hopeful of receiving a pardon before Trump left office in January 2021. No pardon came.

Following Trump's return to office in 2025, Joe Exotic renewed his requests, even offering to serve in Trump's cabinet. His new attorney, Peter Ticktin, previously attended military school with Trump. As of November 2025, the White House has not granted a pardon, with officials stating they "do not speculate on pardons that may or may not happen."

In July 2025, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Joe Exotics request for a new trial.

Prison Status

Joe Exotic is incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. His husband was deported to Mexico.