Kanye West, Why He's Getting Prosecuted And Lamar Isn't

Kanye West is getting prosecuted for screwing with a photographer's equipment at LAX, but Lamar Odom basically did the same thing and he's not facing criminal charges ... and TMZ knows why.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... honchos in the L.A. City Attorney's Office cut Lamar a break because this is the first time he ever went on the attack against a paparazzo.  You'll recall Lamar went into a photog's car and chucked his camera equipment into the street, damaging it.  Lamar has been ordered to attend an informal hearing but will NOT face criminal charges.

Our sources say the reason they're going after Kanye is his history of attacking photographers.  Specifically, the City Attorney has zeroed in on another incident at LAX back in 2008, when he grabbed a photog's camera and threw it to the ground.  The case was filed, but later dismissed after Kanye paid for the repair.

We're told the City Attorney also factored in the various incidents where Kanye has lashed out at photogs ... incidents prosecutors have seen on TMZ.

It is unclear if the City Attorney will try to use prior incidents in Kanye's current criminal case to prove he has an M.O. -- i.e., ATTACK.