The Monkey Whisperer, Lacey Act Trafficking, Florida 2025

Tampa, Florida – A notorious wildlife trafficker, known as The Monkey Whisperer, has been handed a nine-month prison sentence for his involvement in Lacey Act trafficking. Jimmy Wayne Hammonds (62, Parrish), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven to nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to violate the Lacey Act and Lacey Act trafficking. The court also ordered Hammonds to pay a $60,000 fine to benefit the Lacey Act Reward Fund and placed a ban on Hammonds from possessing, breeding, selling, transporting, or exhibiting any wildlife. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Hammonds, despite being a convicted Lacey Act trafficker and on federal probation, ran a business called, ‘The Monkey Whisperer, LLC,’ that specialized in selling primates and other exotic animals. Through his business’s social media account, Hammonds connected with an undercover agent. At Hammonds’s request, the conversations moved to an encrypted texting app to discuss potential wildlife sales. Hammonds agreed to sell the undercover agent two common marmosets for $7,400. Hammonds arranged for the transaction to occur in Georgia to avoid law enforcement oversight.

As a result of this prosecution, Hammonds surrendered his ownership of 67 animals to include numerous primate species, muntjac deer, lemurs, kangaroos, wallabies, and otters. Hammonds’s violation of probation hearing will take place on April 2, 2026.

The case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with substantial assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Claire Favorit and Abigail K. King. The investigation highlights the ongoing efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in the United States.

The case serves as a reminder of the severity of Lacey Act trafficking and the consequences that come with it. Hammonds’s actions not only put the lives of the animals at risk but also compromised the safety and well-being of law enforcement officials involved in the investigation.

Hammonds’s nine-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release demonstrate the commitment of the U.S. government to holding wildlife traffickers accountable for their actions. The $60,000 fine will benefit the Lacey Act Reward Fund, which provides financial incentives for individuals who provide information leading to the successful prosecution of wildlife crimes.

The case is a significant victory for wildlife conservation efforts in the United States. It highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the need for continued vigilance in combating wildlife trafficking.

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