Delco Man Bought Guns For Convicted Felon At Gun Show: DA

MEDIA, PA – A Chester man was convicted of buying two guns for a convicted felon in May 2016, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.

Rashan Lemar DeJarnette, 23, of Chester, was found guilty by a jury of providing false information, tampering with public records, false statements, and false reports to law enforcement, and related crimes, the DA's office said.

DeJarnette faces a five-year minimum mandatory state prison sentence under the Brad Fox Law.

According to the DA's office, DeJarnette was arrested in September 2017 as the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the Office of Attorney General's Gun Violence Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

On June 6, 2017, CID Detective David Tyler met with Martin Dietz of the Office of Attorney General's Gun Violence Task Force in reference to a straw purchase and illegal transfer of a gun that occurred in May.

As a result of further investigation, it was determined that DeJarnette filled out paperwork and purchased two firearms for a convicted felon in exchange for money.

During a gun show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks in May 2016, DeJarnette along with three other males were seen handling and examining different guns.

As the group browsed the guns, one of the males appeared to be in charge of selecting firearms for further examination. While at a vendor table, this same male, a convicted felon, was observed picking out two guns and showing them to DeJarnette. Later, this male was observed handling DeJarnette money which was for the purchase of the guns.

On May 4, 2017, investigators interviewed DeJarnette in reference to the two guns.

During the interview, DeJarnette admitted he knew purchasing the firearms for someone else was illegal.

DeJarnette admitted that he reported the guns stolen to the Chester Police Department because he was scared law enforcement was looking for him.

"We know that many of the illegal guns used in the streets for violence and crime are a result of straw purchases," said District Attorney Katayoun Copeland. "In the case of Rashan DeJarnette, he went to a gun show with the intent to illegally purchase these guns, showing a complete disregard for the law and the safety of his community. I would like to commend Detective Tyler, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Gun Task Force, and the ATF, for leading this investigation and Deputy District Attorney George B. Dawson who prosecuted this case."

Information provided by the Delaware County District Attorney's Office listed DeJarnette's age as 22, but the DA's office has since clarified he is 23 years old.

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office