Records: drugs, guns, sex exploitation noted in fed investigation involving tattoo shop
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Two men face federal charges as part of an investigation involving drugs, firearms and sexual exploitation of a juvenile with apparent links to a local tattoo business, according to recently-obtained records.
Dustin Singleton, 42, of Hobe Sound, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm as a felon, according to records prepared by a Homeland Security Investigations agent.
Elijah Daniel Shaw is charged with production of visual depictions of sexual exploitation of minors, records prepared by the same agent show.
According to Shaw’s criminal complaint affidavit, the case appeared to begin April 29 in Martin County during a traffic stop on a vehicle Singleton reportedly was driving. Sheriff's investigators saw brass knuckles on the center console and a pocketknife hanging out of Singleton’s pocket.
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Dispatchers indicated Singleton was on probation or supervised release in Connecticut and wasn’t allowed to have weapons.
A search of the vehicle turned up items including more than an ounce of methamphetamine, lesser amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, more than 6 ounces of marijuana, two loaded handguns, 10 cell phones and three tablets. Singleton was arrested and taken to the Martin County Jail.
In July, a confidential source told investigators she learned of Singleton in September 2021 through friends and that he owned Greenhouse Inc. Tattoo at 8027 S. U.S. 1, records state. She also gave information regarding Singleton’s involvement with what she called a gang, records show.
According to a search warrant application, investigators determined Singleton is president of “Twist of Da Wrist” motorcycle club.
Records state investigators reported learning two “Twist of Da Wrist” motorcycle club members “were recently involved in shootings, one of which was fatal.”
Homeland Security Investigations officials on Thursday executed a search warrant at Inkboyz Tattoo Shop, which is at the 8027 S. U.S. 1 address.
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Nestor Yglesias, public information officer for Homeland Security Investigations, said the warrant was pursuant to an ongoing criminal investigation but couldn’t discuss the nature of the warrant.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office declined to answer questions about what, if anything, the agency did or whether it had a presence at the location.
A search warrant for Singleton’s 13 devices found chats in which Singleton discussed selling drugs at the tattoo shop. A 13-year-old girl also was in Singleton’s chats.
Investigators found many videos of the girl engaging in sexually explicit activities with Shaw and Singleton, records state.
The door at Inkboyz, in the Mangrove Square plaza, was locked Friday.
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H. Jay Alexander, owner of the neighboring Discount Appliance Parts business, said younger individuals “were coming and going in and out of there all day long.”
He said the business changed names three or four times.
“It was Greenhouse, and now it's Inkboyz, and then it was closed, what I thought, for a while,” Alexander said.
He noted “a lot of motorcycle people” were there when Singleton was there.
He said Singleton “seemed like a nice guy to me,” and very friendly.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com
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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Two men face federal charges in investigation involving tattoo shop
