Tattoo shop owner Zackary Boyer pleads guilty to drug charges
The Melbourne boss of a tattoo store empire, who also co-owns a popular St Kilda bar, has copped to multiple drug charges.
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The Melbourne boss of a multi-state tattoo store empire has avoided a conviction despite being nabbed with a swag of drugs.
Zackary Boyer, 31, was handed a 12-month adjourned undertaking at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine, cannabis and human growth hormone.
Boyer was nabbed after police raided his Docklands apartment on July 31 last year.
Caulfield Divisional Response Unit members seized cocaine, cannabis, knuckledusters, two mobile phones and four boxes of Norditropin human growth hormone.
The prosecution told the court there was no quantifiable weight of the drugs but instead submitted images of the drug haul.
Boyer, who was also charged with failing to provide access to his mobile phones, was hauled away for questioning where he gave a “no comment” interview.
The court heard Boyer was on bail at the time of the raid after he was charged with misleading the liquor board.
Nick Marcevski, for Boyer, submitted his client did not possess the drugs for purposes of trafficking.
The court heard Boyer grew a tattoo store empire after graduating from Sacred Heart College and Swinburne University.
Boyer, who grew up in Kyneton, worked for several accountancy firms before launching his tattoo empire.
Boyer then opened up Addikted To Ink* stores in Collingwood and Frankston and established a tattoo removal business LazerAway in Coburg.
The prominent businessman also established Gold Coast tattoo store Blood Money in Southport earlier this year.
Boyer expanded his empire with the court hearing he recently purchased another Melbourne tattoo store.
Boyer also part owns St Kilda bar Secret Garden, the court was told.
Boyer has also launched money lending business Ink Money which finances tattoos and hopes to take the company to the US.
The court was told Boyer is on the cusp of launching a tattoo finance app in the US.
Mr Marcevski said his client’s interstate and overseas business travel plans could be in jeopardy if Boyer received a conviction.
The court was told Boyer travelled extensively prior to the pandemic attending tattoo expos while promoting his business.
Magistrate Fran Medina accepted Boyer was an intelligent entrepreneur with “prior good character”.
“You have a strong set of skills,” she said.
Boyer was handed the good behaviour bond and ordered to donate $500 to the Royal Children’s.
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