Health Officials, Police Warn Of Illegal Tattoo Artist
By Kristen Johnson
Published : August 19, 2009

JAMESTOWN, NY – Public health officials in Chautauqua County are asking anyone who received a tattoo recently from a Jamestown man to come forward and be tested for an array of diseases that include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Kenneth Paul Fenti, whose age and address remain undisclosed by the Chautauqua County Health Department and the Jamestown Police Department, was charged with violating the county’s health code after he provided tattoos to an undisclosed number of people with a homemade, portable tattoo gun that police said was fashioned from a toothbrush.

”We had a complaint about his practice of tattooing, so we immediately followed up on that complaint and found that he was indeed tattooing without an artist certification,” said Christine Schuyler, the county’s public health director. ”We did shut him down and confiscated his equipment.”

Chautauqua County health regulations require tattoo artists to be certified and licensed before they can legally provide tattoos, Schuyler said. Health department sanitarians regularly inspect tattoo parlors. Licensed parlors and artists will receive a permit from the county that looks much like permits for restaurants, she said.

”He was operating without that,” Schuyler said. ”We also have concerns that Mr. Fenti was not following proper infection control procedures. There’s a lot of blood when you’re dealing with tattoos, and if you don’t take the proper precautions, disease can very easily be spread.”

According to police, Fenti, a so-called ”scratcher,” used to live in the south and recently moved back to Jamestown.

”This was a tattoo gun that he made himself,” said JPD Capt. Robert Samuelson. ”We are not sure if he was able to change the needle, which is a requirement for licensed tattoo parlors, so we’re just taking the precaution and asking anybody who got a tattoo from him to get tested immediately.”

Samuelson said Fenti provided tattoos in ”a number of different places” and said officials remain uncertain as to the exact number of tattoos he provided.

”The complaint we received came from a person who got a tattoo from Mr. Fenti in the first week of August,” Samuelson said. ”Shortly after getting that tattoo, the person went to the health department and issued a complaint. The health department immediately followed up and we were there to help.”

It was unclear as of press time Tuesday whether Fenti was in custody and whether he could or would be charged with anything should it be proven that someone was infected after getting a tattoo from him.

”Right now, there are no criminal violations, and I’m honestly not sure how it would work if someone were to test positive for a disease as a result of a tattoo from him,” Schuyler said. ”There are only health code violations at this time.”

Schuyler said thus far, nobody has tested positive for any kind of disease with regards to Fenti’s tattoo practices.

”We have no confirmed cases of anything right now,” she said. ”We are simply encouraging people to come in and get tested. We want people who have gotten a tattoo from him to take that precaution and make sure they haven’t been infected with a disease. This is not something to take lightly. These are very serious bloodborne diseases.”

Those who want to get a tattoo should ”do their homework” and make themselves ”well aware” of the potential risks of going to unlicensed tattoo providers, Samuelson and Schuyler said.

Scratchers like Fenti typically do not use gloves, masks, sterilized needles or other single-use equipment such as needles, tattoo guns and approved ink supplies, which means they can easily spread diseases. Before getting a tattoo, Schuyler said customers should carefully check the credentials of the tattoo artist and ensure that the facility is licensed. Also, Schuyler said, the customer should discuss safety procedures with the tattoo artist prior to getting a tattoo.

”Ask lots of questions,” Schuyler said. ”Ask them to explain what they do to keep people safe and healthy. Make sure they use sterile needles and razors, wash their hands, wear gloves and keep all of the equipment and surfaces in the parlor clean. People really have to protect themselves.”

Concerned individuals who seek testing should contact their health care provider. Those who do not have a health care provider or who lack health insurance should call the Chautauqua County Health Department at 661-8111 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for testing options.

Source : The Post-Journal