Parrish man indicted after illegally selling monkeys to celebrities, prosecutors say
A Parrish man known as “The Monkey Whisperer” has been indicted on animal trafficking charges, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced.
On Friday, federal prosecutors announced indictments against Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 61, who operated The Monkey Whisperer LLC in Florida, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
His brother, Johnny D-Lane Hammonds, 59, of St. Petersburg, has also been indicted, according to a news release. If convicted on all counts, the brothers could each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to a news release.
Prosecutors say the two conspired with each other to sell wildlife illegally, transporting the marmosets in violation of Florida and Georgia law.
Jimmy, known as “The Monkey Whisperer,” has a criminal history of illegally dealing in primates and may have even dealt pet monkeys to celebrities, prosecutors say.
The Bradenton Herald previously reported on Jimmy’s indictment in December 2020 on similar wildlife charges. Court records show he pleaded guilty in March 2022 to one count of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits the trafficking of illegal wildlife, and three counts of violating the Endangered Species Act.
‘The Monkey Whisperer’ faces new criminal charges
In 2022, Jimmy faced up to eight years in prison, but a judge sentenced him to five years of probation and a $90,000 fine.
For that case, prosecutors said Jimmy arranged the sale of a capuchin monkey to someone in California who could not legally possess the animal and also said he conspired to transport the animal from Florida to California by contracting a person who did not have the necessary permits to do so.
The capuchin is one species of South American monkey that Jimmy is accused of illegally selling, according to prosecutors. In addition to the capuchin incident, prosecutors say Jimmy illegally sold the cotton-top tamarin to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
The cotton-top tamarin, a micro-sized monkey native to Colombia, is described by the Wildlife Conservation Network as one of the most critically endangered primates in the world.
Parrish man sold monkeys to celebs, prosecutors say
For Jimmy’s most recent indictment, prosecutors say he and his brother illegally transported and sold marmosets, a small, squirrel-like monkey native to South America.
Court records show Jimmy operated The Monkey Whisperer LLC in Florida, a business that bred and sold primates around the U.S. As of Friday afternoon, the website appears to be inactive, but the Bradenton Herald previously reported that baby Geoffrey marmosets, Asian small-clawed otters, African bongo antelopes and ruffed and ring-tailed lemurs were once advertised.
One of Jimmy’s alleged clients was R&B artist Chris Brown, the Bradenton Herald previously reported. Several tips in late 2017, including one from PETA, alerting California wildlife officials that the music artist illegally owned a capuchin monkey as a pet sparked the 2020 investigation into the Parrish wildlife dealer.
Prosecutors said Brown paid $12,650 for the monkey, which was later seized by California wildlife investigators.
Prosecutors also said Jimmy communicated often with Jamal Rashid, a hip-hop producer known as Mally Mall who is believed to have illegally provided a capuchin monkey to singer Justin Bieber in 2013.
Jimmy and Johnny are charged with violating the Lacey Act, which bans the trade and possession of many plant and animal species.
This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 5:45 PM.
