Puyallup rapper charged after posting photos of himself with guns on social media
A Puyallup felon and aspiring rapper who continuously posted pictures of himself holding guns on social media was federally charged this week.
Deshawn West, 25, is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.
After making his first court appearance Monday, West was ordered held at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.
West, who allegedly has ties to a Lakewood gang, posted multiple photographs on social media of himself handling weapons.
Some of the guns had extended magazines and one appeared to be modified for rapid fire, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
He was arrested in Montana in October for violating his probation, but was eventually released.
After again posting pictures of himself holding guns Feb. 12, the FBI’s South Sound Gang Task Force took him into custody at his home two days later.
Agents allegedly found two guns, extended magazines and ammunition in his apartment.
West is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has a felony assault conviction from 2018 and was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2014.
If convicted as charged, West faces up to 10 years in prison.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 11:36 AM.
