FLORIDA — A federal grand jury has indicted two Florida men on charges of conspiracy and wildlife trafficking related to the illegal sale of marmosets, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced.
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Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 61, of Parrish, also known as “The Monkey Whisperer,” and his brother Johnny D-Lane Hammonds, 59, of St. Petersburg, are accused of conspiring to sell wildlife and violating the Lacey Act, a federal law prohibiting wildlife trafficking.
If convicted, both face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Mr. Hammonds and Mr. Hammonds allegedly worked together to transport and sell marmosets in violation of federal and state laws.
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An indictment is a formal charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Claire Favorit and Abigail K. King will prosecute the case.
