Justin Bieber could face a fine of $2,000 for applying illegal ink to artist Bang Bang.
Justin Bieber was tattooing without a license in New York City last June.
The Canadian pop star swapped his microphone for an inking needle to embellish friend and tattoo artist Bang Bang, real name Keith McCurdy, with a new design.
Bieber, then 18, inked McCurdy's leg with a picture of a muscle-bound mouse, the "Believe" singer's cartoon alter-ego, and the word "Swaggy."
The tat seemed to be an exchange for one that McCurdy gave Bieber. The singer got the word "Believe" inked just below his right forearm.
It was Bieber's first time with a tattoo machine, but it was not Bang Bang's first time to be inked by a novice. The tattoo artist to the stars also has designs by Katy Perry, Chris Brown, and Amar'e Stoudemire.
McCurdy, who operates Bang Bang Tattoo Parlor on the Lower East Side, seemed thrilled with his new tattoo.
"Thx for my tat bro!" he tweeted to Bieber.
But the New York City Health Department may be less than pleased.
In 2009, when Rihanna tattooed McCurdy and two other artists with the letter 'R,' the Health Department cited salon East Side Ink for "operating with an unlicensed tattoo artist on site."
The charge comes with a fine as high as $2,000
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