‘The Monkey Whisperer’ Violated Federal Wildlife Laws: DOJ

PARRISH, FL — A Parrish man known as “The Monkey Whisperer” has been indicted for trafficking protected primates and violating federal wildlife laws, the Department of Justice said in a news release.

Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 57, has been charged with conspiracy, trafficking, and submitting a false record in violation of the Lacey Act, a federal law involving the illegal trade of wildlife, the DOJ said. He was also charged with violations of the Endangered Species Act and witness tampering.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment on the witness tampering count, up to five years in federal prison on each of the conspiracy and Lacey Act counts, and up to one year on each Endangered Species count.

According to the indictment, Hammonds owned and operated The Monkey Whisperer, LLC, a business engaged in the breeding and selling of wildlife.

From September 2017 until February 2018, he conspired to sell a capuchin monkey to a buyer in California, even though that buyer could not lawfully possess a capuchin monkey in that state, the DOJ said. Hammonds facilitated the transportation of the capuchin monkey from Florida to California through individuals who were not permitted to possess that species of monkey in either state. Law enforcement later seized the monkey from the residence of the California buyer.

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Hammonds also illegally sold cotton-top tamarins, which are primates listed as an endangered species, to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin, the DOJ said. He concealed his unlawful wildlife trafficking by submitting false records to a law enforcement officer and attempted to persuade a witness to lie to authorities.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Colin McDonell.