FWC Doesn't Monkey Around With Local Business

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The next time Miami resident Jorge Garcia, 55, decides to monkey around with something, he may be doing it behind bars.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Wednesday that Garcia had been operating an illegal business breeding and selling several species of monkeys. A total of 28 monkeys as well as other wildlife were seized at the northwest Miami business.

"This business has been operating for seven years," said Capt. David Dipre, area investigations supervisor for the FWC. "We have been looking into it and were, fortunately, able to shut it down."

FWC said the business was selling the monkeys without a license and to unlicensed individuals.

Garcia faces charges of possession of wildlife without a permit, sale of wildlife without a permit, sale or transfer of wildlife to an unlicensed person, caging violations, and other records-keeping violations. FWC said the charges could lead to fines and/or jail time.