By Ashley Robinson Joe Exotic, whose legal name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, has not been released from prison. The former Oklahoma zoo owner remains in federal custody while serving a 21-year sentence for a murder-for-hire plot and multiple wildlife violations.
The latest reports say Maldonado-Passage was moved to a federal medical facility in Lexington, Kentucky, in July 2026. He remains incarcerated, and his scheduled release is reported to be in 2036.
Although he has repeatedly sought a pardon, a new trial and an earlier release, none of those efforts has freed him from federal prison.
Why Joe Exotic was sent to prison
Maldonado-Passage became nationally known after appearing in the Netflix documentary series Tiger King. The program focused on his Oklahoma animal park and his long-running feud with animal-rights activist Carole Baskin.
Federal prosecutors said Maldonado-Passage tried to hire people to kill Baskin in 2017. One of the people he approached was an undercover FBI agent. Prosecutors argued that he offered money for the murder and discussed how the plan could be carried out.
A federal jury convicted him in 2019 on two murder-for-hire counts. He was also convicted of wildlife-related offenses, including falsifying records, illegally selling animals across state lines and killing five tigers at his park.
His original 22-year sentence was reduced
In January 2020, a federal judge sentenced Maldonado-Passage to 22 years in prison. His legal team later appealed the sentence calculation, arguing that the two murder-for-hire convictions had been treated separately even though they involved the same alleged target and plan.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit agreed that the sentencing guidelines had been applied incorrectly. The appeals court did not overturn the convictions, but it sent the case back for resentencing.
At a new sentencing hearing in January 2022, the judge reduced the sentence by one year. Maldonado-Passage is therefore serving 21 years rather than 22 years. The reduction did not mean that he was found innocent or that the case was dismissed.
Why he has not been released after the sentence reduction
A reduction from 22 years to 21 years does not amount to immediate freedom. Maldonado-Passage still has to serve the revised federal sentence, subject to federal custody rules and any credits recognized by the Bureau of Prisons.
Reports have placed his projected release in 2036. The exact date can change because of earned or lost credit, administrative decisions and any future court ruling. Federal inmates generally do not receive ordinary parole, so he cannot simply apply for early parole in the same way some state prisoners can.
A presidential pardon or commutation could change his sentence, but no such clemency action has released him.
His appeals and pardon efforts
Joe Exotic has continued to challenge his conviction. His legal team has argued that important witnesses gave unreliable testimony and that new evidence justified another trial. Lower courts rejected those arguments.
In March 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review his case. That left the 21-year conviction and sentence in place. The Supreme Court’s decision did not order a new trial and did not authorize his release.
Maldonado-Passage has also asked for presidential clemency. He received widespread public support from some fans after Tiger King became popular, but no pardon or commutation has been granted.
Joe Exotic’s health and prison transfer
Maldonado-Passage has reported serious health problems during his imprisonment, including prostate cancer and later concerns about lung cancer. His health has been part of his requests for compassionate treatment and release.
His move to a federal medical facility reflects the type of institution used for prisoners who need continuing medical care. It does not mean that he has been released or transferred to home confinement.
He has also remained publicly visible through statements, social-media posts and messages from prison. Those appearances can create confusion, but they are not evidence that he is outside federal custody.
When is Joe Exotic expected to get out?
As of the latest available reports, Joe Exotic is expected to remain in federal prison until 2036 unless his sentence is changed through a successful legal appeal, clemency action or another court-approved process.
The reported 2036 date is a projected release date, not a guarantee that no legal change can occur. It could move if he earns or loses credits, but there has been no verified announcement of an imminent release.
Therefore, the accurate answer is no—Joe Exotic has not gotten out of prison. The Tiger King star remains incarcerated while serving his federal sentence. This article is for general information and is not legal advice.