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Tonia Haddix pleaded guilty on March 31, 2025, to two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice after falsely claiming that Tonka had died. On August 7, 2025, she was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the Justice Department and the Associated Press. The criminal case concerned her false statements and obstruction—not a standalone offense officially called “faking an animal’s death.”
Haddix appealed her sentence in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, case No. 25-2649. The court’s official calendar listed the appeal for argument on September 22, 2026, but the sources checked for this article do not establish whether the court has since issued a decision. Tonka was found alive in a basement cage and transferred to Save the Chimps in Florida in June 2022.
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Spoiler warning: This article reveals the central twist of HBO’s Chimp Crazy.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Was Tonia Haddix prosecuted? | Yes. She pleaded guilty in federal court on March 31, 2025. |
| What were the charges? | Two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. |
| What was her sentence? | Forty-six months in prison and three years of supervised release. |
| What is the appeal status? | The Eighth Circuit calendar listed argument for September 22, 2026. The sources checked do not establish a later disposition. |
| What happened to Tonka? | He was found alive in a basement cage and transferred to Save the Chimps in Florida on June 8, 2022, according to the Justice Department. |
| Was Jerry Aswegan charged? | The official criminal sources reviewed identify Haddix as the defendant; they do not establish a separate charge against Aswegan. |
What happened to Tonka?
The dispute began with a federal civil lawsuit over the care and possession of chimpanzees at a facility Haddix operated near Festus, Missouri. PETA filed the underlying suit in 2016. The Justice Department says the court entered a consent decree on October 2, 2020, and later orders addressed transfer of the chimpanzees.
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According to the Justice Department’s account, Haddix repeatedly claimed that Tonka had died while the court was addressing its orders. The court ordered the chimpanzees transferred to the Center for Great Apes. When authorities arrived, six chimpanzees were removed, but Tonka was absent.
Haddix claimed that Tonka had died and been cremated. She later admitted in her guilty plea that her false statements influenced and obstructed justice in the pending civil suit.
On June 8, 2022, PETA and Save the Chimps representatives, assisted by Deputy U.S. Marshals, transferred Tonka from a cage in Haddix’s basement to a Save the Chimps sanctuary, according to the Justice Department.
What charges were filed?
Haddix waived a grand-jury indictment and pleaded guilty to three federal felony counts on March 31, 2025:
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- One count of obstruction of justice. The Justice Department says Haddix admitted that her false statements influenced and obstructed justice in the pending civil suit.
These were the offenses in the criminal case. Haddix was not convicted in that case of a generic animal-abuse charge or an offense formally titled “faking Tonka’s death.”
Why did the case become federal?
The underlying dispute was already in federal court. After Haddix made false statements in connection with the pending civil case and court orders, the prosecution concerned federal offenses involving perjury and obstruction of justice. The criminal case was separate from the animal-care dispute; the guilty plea should not be treated as a criminal conviction for every allegation made in that civil litigation.
Why did older stories say Haddix could face charges?
When Chimp Crazy premiered on HBO in 2024, the criminal outcome was still unresolved. Reporting at the time described the then-current situation. That is no longer the answer to whether Haddix was prosecuted: she pleaded guilty on March 31, 2025, rather than going to trial.
What sentence did Tonia Haddix receive?
On August 7, 2025, Haddix was sentenced to 46 months in prison, according to the Justice Department. The Associated Press reports that the sentence also included three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
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What other consequences did she face?
The case also involved consequences in the separate civil and administrative proceedings. The Justice Department’s plea and sentencing announcements concern Haddix’s criminal offenses; claims about other proceedings should be understood in that separate context.
Is Tonia Haddix’s sentence being appealed?
Yes. Haddix appealed her sentence to the Eighth Circuit under case No. 25-2649. The Eighth Circuit’s official argument calendar listed United States v. Tonia Haddix for argument on September 22, 2026.
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An argument-calendar entry establishes that the case was scheduled for argument; it is not a decision on the appeal. The sources checked for this article do not establish whether the court issued a disposition after argument. Check the live appellate docket before stating the outcome.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened to Tonka after the rescue?
Tonka was transferred to Save the Chimps in Florida in June 2022. The Justice Department identifies June 8 as the transfer date. The sanctuary’s Tonka page provides its updates about him.
Did Jerry Aswegan face charges?
The official criminal sources reviewed identify Haddix as the defendant who pleaded guilty and was sentenced. They do not establish a separate criminal charge against Aswegan, so it would be inaccurate to say he was prosecuted alongside Haddix without a separate charging document or official announcement.
Timeline of the Tonka case
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2016 | PETA filed the underlying federal civil suit concerning the chimpanzees’ care. |
| October 2, 2020 | The court entered a consent decree, according to the Justice Department. |
| June 8, 2022 | Tonka was transferred from a basement cage to Save the Chimps with assistance from Deputy U.S. Marshals, according to the Justice Department. |
| March 31, 2025 | Haddix waived indictment and pleaded guilty to two perjury counts and one obstruction count. |
| August 7, 2025 | Haddix received a 46-month prison sentence; the Associated Press reports three years of supervised release. |
| September 22, 2026 | The Eighth Circuit calendar listed Haddix’s appeal, No. 25-2649, for argument. |
What the case does—and does not—establish
Haddix’s guilty plea establishes her criminal responsibility for two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. It does not mean every allegation about the broader animal-care dispute was separately adjudicated in the criminal case. Distinguish the admitted offenses from allegations or advocacy claims about the civil litigation.
FAQ
What was Tonia Haddix charged with?
She pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice on March 31, 2025, according to the Justice Department.
How long was Tonia Haddix sentenced to?
She received 46 months in prison on August 7, 2025. The Associated Press reports that the sentence included three years of supervised release.
Where was Tonka found?
Tonka was found in a cage in Haddix’s basement and transferred to Save the Chimps on June 8, 2022, according to the Justice Department.
What happened to Tonia Haddix’s appeal?
The Eighth Circuit calendar listed her appeal, No. 25-2649, for argument on September 22, 2026. The sources checked do not establish whether the court has since issued a decision.
Was Jerry Aswegan charged in the Tonka case?
The official criminal sources reviewed name Haddix as the defendant; they do not establish a separate criminal charge against Aswegan.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Haddix pleaded guilty to two perjury counts and one obstruction count and received a 46-month prison sentence with three years of supervised release. Tonka was found alive in a basement cage and transferred to Save the Chimps. The Eighth Circuit calendar listed Haddix’s appeal for argument on September 22, 2026, but the sources checked do not establish its disposition.
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