A Florida man who called himself “The Monkey Whisperer” has been sent to prison after continuing to smuggle exotic animals while on probation for the same crime, US prosecutors say.Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 62, of Parrish, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2025, to conspiring to violate the Lacey Act, a federal law banning illegal wildlife trade.Hammonds ran a business called The Monkey Whisperer, LLC and specialized in selling primates and other exotic animals. Authorities said he continued to operate the business despite already being on federal probation for similar crimes.According to court documents, Hammonds contacted an undercover agent through his business’s social media account. “At Hammonds’ request, the conversation moved to an encrypted texting app to discuss a potential wildlife sale. The Hammonds agreed to sell two common marmosets to the undercover agent for $7,400.” He also arranged to make the deal in Georgia in an effort to avoid law enforcement investigation.Prosecutors said the case led to the surrender of 67 animals owned by the Hammonds. These included several primate species as well as muntjac deer, lemurs, kangaroos, wallabies and otters.In addition to the prison sentence, a federal judge ordered Hammonds to pay a $60,000 fine to benefit the Lacey Act Reward Fund, which supports whistleblowers who report wildlife trafficking. They are also banned from “keeping, breeding, selling, transporting or displaying any wildlife”.Hammonds also faces a violation of probation hearing on April 2, 2026.