Tattoo artist accused of trading illicit pictures of minors for tattoos

PEORIA, Ill. (WEEK/Gray News) - A tattoo artist in Illinois is facing charges after reportedly sending explicit messages to minors in exchange for tattoos.

Mario Davis, the owner of InkCapital at the Shoppes of Grand Prairie, was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with grooming, indecent solicitation of a child and disorderly conduct.

According to Peoria police, the investigation surrounding Davis started in February after a concerned parent reported explicit messages being sent to a minor.

Search warrants executed by officers confirmed the messages came from Davis.

Police said the disorderly conduct was added to Davis’ charges after he filed a false police report in connection with the investigation.

Davis has been accused before of trading illicit pictures of minors for tattoos. While police have not revealed details surrounding the recent charges, they are in line with previous claims.

Previously, a woman came forward and stated that she went to Davis for a tattoo when she was 15 years old because she knew he wouldn’t require parental permission. The woman said the appointment took a negative turn when Davis allegedly wouldn’t take “no” for an answer, and he raped her.

The same woman claimed that several years later, Davis created a fake social media profile and reached back out to her, asking for sexual favors in exchange for tattoo work.

WEEK reports that another tattoo artist said they had several women detail their experiences at Davis’s shop, and the women alleged he would offer tattoos for sex.

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