‘Chimp Crazy’ Star from Missouri Sentenced to 46 Months

If you lie to a court of law, you will pay the price. A Missouri reality television star has learned this the hard way as she has been sentenced to 46 months in prison in the complicated and wild 'Chimp Crazy' case.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri has shared details about the fate of Tonia Haddix who starred in the HBO reality series "Chimp Crazy". Her claims about the death of her chimpanzee were investigated by the FBI.

55-year-old Tonia Haddix pled guilty to three felony charges: two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice for repeatedly lying about the death of her chimpanzee "Tonka" who starred in many Hollywood movies including George of the Jungle. Her fight with law enforcement and the court system about the whereabouts of Tonka led to the series "Chimp Crazy" which was mentioned during the sentencing.

“Tonia Haddix’s lies about the death of Tonka were only part of a series of falsehoods that she told the District Court about her plans to properly care for the chimps in her custody,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “She continued to lie, even as she pleaded guilty in March, as she was secretly keeping a new chimp in a cage in the basement of her home where she once confined Tonka. Justice is impossible if participants in the judicial system lie. This case should send a message that those lies will not be tolerated, nor will violations of plea agreements and pretrial release conditions.”