There is little doubt that facial hair has made a big, bushy comeback in recent years. Think of sports stars such as Mike Napoli of the Texas Rangers and James Harden of the Houston Rockets as two celebrities making thick, long beards popular.
The fad extends to Europe where men are also fond of growing elaborate facial shrubbery. According to officials, one man was so enamored of his lengthy bristles that he ventured from his home in France to enter the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Austin, though he is allegedly a sought-after dark-web drug trafficker.
According to news reports, the suspect is an administrator on the dark web’s notorious Dream Market site where illegal drugs are purchased and sold anonymously.
Thirty-eight-year-old Gal Vallerius is believed by officials to be the man behind the site’s OxyMonster screen name.
He was arrested in Atlanta a few days ago while enroute to Austin for the annual facial hair contest where he would have been one of 738 contestants from 33 countries. Another competitor said of Vallerius, “I don’t know anything about what other stuff he did, but as far as his beard goes, it’s really awesome; long and bright red.”
Vallerius will next be on a flight to Miami where he will face federal drug conspiracy charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison, news reports stated.
Penalties for federal drug crimes are just that harsh. If you face the possibility of incarceration, you can speak with an attorney experienced in drug crime defense.