Florida ‘Monkey Whisperer’ and his brother facing new wildlife trafficking charges

PARRISH, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man, best known by the nickname, “The Monkey Whisperer,” has reportedly gotten into trouble with the law again, this time for illegally trafficking marmosets.

A grand jury returned an indictment earlier this week charging Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 61, of Parrish, with conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and Lacey Act trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

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Jimmy Hammonds’ brother, Johnny D-Lane Hammonds, 59, of St. Petersburg was indicted on the same set of charges for his alleged involvement in the trafficking of wildlife.

Officials said the brothers are believed to have transported and sold marmosets — one of the smallest members of the monkey family — in Florida and Georgia.

Jimmy Hammonds was convicted for similar acts in 2012, and again in 2022.

At the time, authorities said Jimmy Hammonds owned and operated The Monkey Whisperer, LLC, a business that bred and sold wildlife.

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