Famous Richard arrested for dancing with a gun on social media

The famous Richard traded his viral fame for federal arrest earlier this week after he was arrested for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

The charges stem from a heated altercation on July 4 outside a Bayonne, New Jersey, gas station that led to gun threats, prosecutors said.

Authorities allege that the famous Richard brandished a gun with an extended magazine during an argument at the gas station and threatened to open fire, an act that would later reappear on his social media.

In a now-deleted video, prosecutors maintain, the famous Richard danced with the same firearm days after the incident.

Authorities continued a court-approved search of his home and vehicle on July 12, which unearthed a loaded Beretta M9 semi-automatic pistol without its serial number and an extended magazine containing 24 bullets, according to court documents.

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The 25-year-old aspiring rapper, who has amassed more than 360,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 443,000 followers on Instagram, appeared before Federal Judge André M. Espinosa in federal court in Newark, where he was ordered detained.

The charge against him, for carrying a firearm as a felon, could mean up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted.

The arrest of the famous Richard marks the latest in a growing list of run-ins with authorities.

The Bayonne native, who initially gained traction in rap circles for his song “On The Run,” has faced 12 previous arrests, including three related to allegations of illegal weapons possession.

While his lyrics and online antics paint a picture of rebellion, they have repeatedly led him into situations where fantasy collides with federal law.

And the famous Richard is no stranger to controversy.

Before his arrest, Famous Richard’s moody vlogs and swagger-filled posts often straddled the line between performance art and provocation, even filming confrontations with the NYPD and uploading them to TikTok.