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The owner of an exotic animal breeding business in Florida has been sentenced to five years' probation for illegally selling a capuchin monkey to singer Chris Brown.
According to the indictment, Chris Brown paid over $12,000 to Florida monkey breeder, Jimmy Hammonds, who operated The Monkey Whisperer Ranch in Parrish, Florida. Per both Florida and California laws, it is illegal to transfer a capuchin monkey without a permit.
This case started after Chris Brown shared a picture of the monkey on Instagram. Wildlife agents moved in but prosecutors dropped charges of possessing the monkey without a permit after Chris agreed to give up his rights to Fiji and pay $35,000 for the monkey's care.
Aside from pleading guilty to conspiracy and three counts of violating the Endangered Species Act, Jimmy Hammonds also said he illegally sold endangered cotton-top tamarins to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.