A Florida man was due back in court Tuesday in an animal cruelty case involving 15 primates that died while being shipped from South America to Asia through Los Angeles International Airport.

Robert Matson Conyers faces multiple counts of animal cruelty in L.A. County Superior Court. If convicted, he could be sentenced to six months in jail and a $20,000 fine.

According to prosecutors, another man sold the primates to a buyer in Thailand in February 2008 and hired Conyers to ship them.

The primates -- including 14 marmosets, five white-fronted capuchins and six squirrel monkeys -- were denied entry in China because of shipping document irregularities and ordered sent back to LAX.

During the journey, 15 of the monkeys died due to what prosecutors described as a "lack of care, starvation and hypothermia."

When the animals were returned to Los Angeles, Los Angeles Zoo veterinarians gave emergency medical treatment to the survivors.

The other animals were then taken to the San Diego Wild Animal Park for treatment and care.