‘Monkey Whisperer’ from Florida pleads guilty to selling wildlife to celeb Chris Brown
Several tips in late 2017 including one from PETA alerting California wildlife officials that R&B artist Chris Brown illegally had a capuchin monkey as a pet sparked an investigation into his dealer, a Parrish, Florida, man also known as “The Monkey Whisperer.”
Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, who was indicted in December 2020, has now pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Lacy Act, which prohibits the trafficking of illegal wildlife, and three counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. Hammonds is now facing up to eight years in federal prison.
“Exotic animals are not playthings, fashion accessories, or Instagram props for celebrities, and they’re not a business venture, either,” PETA Foundation Associate Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Michelle Sinnott said in a provided statement. “Many animal advocates alerted PETA to Chris Brown’s illegal possession of this monkey, and they helped us take down a cruel and criminal breeder.”
Hammonds conspired to sell Brown the money between September 2017 until February 2018. In California, it is illegal to have a monkey as a pet — something stated on the homepage of Hammonds’ business website.
Brown paid $12,650 for the monkey, which was later seized by California wildlife investigators.
Months later, Christine Brown — who prosecutors believe is the musician’s aunt — filed a motion with the court asking the monkey to be returned to her, claiming it was her pet.
Cellphone records showed no communication between Hammonds and the woman, however. Hammonds also provided law enforcement financial narratives in attempt to support the false narrative, but investigators later found financial records of the $12,650 payment between Hammonds and the artist.
Hammonds did communicate a lot with a known associate of the artist, Jamal Rashid, a hip-hop producer known as Mally Mall who is believed to have illegally provided a capuchin monkey to singer Justin Bieber in 2013, according to court records.
Hammonds also illegally sold four cotton-top tamarins — a very small monkey found only in northwestern Colombia and listed as an endangered species — to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin for $4,500 each, according to the Feb. 24 signed plea agreement. He later told those clients to lie to investigators in attempt to cover up the sales, asking them to tell law enforcement that they got the monkeys at a flea market.
Investigators with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the California Department of Fish who investigated the case, also believe that Hammonds sold rapper Swae Lee, member of the duo Rae Sremmurd, two spider monkeys, according to court records.
Hammonds website listed states where having a pet monkey is illegal along with a disclaimer.
“As per Florida law, you cannot possess these babies in Florida without a Florida permit, no matter what state you are from,” he warns clients of using other breeders who will lie to them. “Please educate yourself on Florida regulations. You are spending a lot of money. We are licensed USDA transporters. We will legally transport your new baby to the border of Georgia or Alabama or to your doorstep in any legal state. Please call Florida Fish & Wildlife to verify the information we are providing.”
On the site themonkeywhisperer.com, baby Geoffrey marmosets, Asian small clawed otter, African bongo antelope, ruffed and ring-tailed lemurs and Asian small clawed otters are also advertised.
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 11:53 AM with the headline "‘Monkey Whisperer’ from Florida pleads guilty to selling wildlife to celeb Chris Brown."
