A shame. From what I remember, they were otherwise an okay site member.

We would need to go with perma. I personally would be alright allowing an appeal in one year, but I'll defer to staff who can be more objective in this scenario.

ETA: of note, on October 19, 2019 (the day before this edit was made) they sent me the following PM:

Hello! I am not sure if you remember me, but I am that one guy that stole art and got banned for fair reasons. I think it was in 2015 that I did it? Not even sure anymore.

Well, I just wanted to send you this to let you know that I have improved a lot since then, even making my actual art by somewhat improving. I was fairly important to the Lusophone branch, but it really couldn't be officialized by someone who was banned in the Anglophone branch — the most important one.

I've heard of some of the problems you guys faced there whilst I was gone, including the whole RPC thing and among others. I've seen it evolve and all, and it was fairly nice. My main point is: I am now a different person, and even though I won't have the chance to appeal my ban (of course), I do still want to say thank you to you and everyone else that showed me that I was being a jerk.

I also tried several times writing this before but couldn't due to my constant fear of "what if they still think of me like that" sorta

sadly enough I now think 348 is my second favorite. it's still 10/10 soup, would recommend

I wasn't sure what to make of it, so I just asked if they wanted this to be conveyed to the rest of staff, and they said yes. So here it is.

This is basically worth counting as straight plagiarism.

NaxinD

I was provided with the following two links for reverse google image searches the reporting user performed before the deletions:

One.
Two.

This second one is supported by one of the few pieces of evidence remaining, an entry to our Social Media Art Contest:

Post.
Screenshot of post if image is removed.

Which sly managed to link to this page. Of note, that is from the same art site as the second image above, and by a different user. Also, it was posted to the art site in July, I believe (assuming non-US date conventions), where the version posted to the site, with the credit bar removed was posted in August.

I also got a confession after going to him with such evidence:

Ok, I confess.
I'm a thief, I'm ashamed of myself, and I deserve disciplinary action.
_{i just hope that the disciplinary action isn't perma}

I see no solution but a permanent ban, especially considering they tried to enter it in a contest. We simply cannot account for such unabashed thievery on site.