A man known as “The Monkey Whisperer” was indicted for illegal trafficking of monkeys.
Last month, United States Attorney Roger Handberg announced the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging 61-year-old Jimmy Wayne Hammonds a/k/a “The Monkey Whisperer,” of Parrish, and his brother 59-year-old Johnny D-Lane Hammonds, of St. Petersburg, with conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and Lacey Act trafficking.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, if convicted on all counts, Jimmy Hammonds and Johnny Hammonds each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, the Florida defendants conspired with each other to sell wildlife, and transported and sold marmosets, in violation of federal and state laws.
This case was investigated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Claire Favorit and Abigail K. King.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until proven guilty.
