PARRISH, Fla. — A 61-year-old man from Parish known as "The Monkey Whisperer" and his brother are behind bars after authorities said they were illegally trafficking monkeys.
Jimmy Hammonds and his 59-year-old sibling Johnny Hammonds, who's from St. Petersburg, secretly planned to sell wildlife animals and transported and sold marmosets, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday.
The brothers were charged with conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and Lacey Act trafficking. The DOJ said that if found guilty on all counts, the Hammonds could face 10 years in federal prison.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Favorit and Abigail King will prosecute the case.
Pinellas County commissioner feels betrayed by Rays' for 2025
After a month of speculation, the Rays announced Thursday it will play at George M. Steinbrenner Field next season, which is also the spring training home of the New York Yankees. Latvala believes the team should have played next season at a minor league ballpark in Pinellas County.
