Pawn Stars: Austin Lee 'Chumlee' Russell's Legal Issues Explained (2024)

Pawn Stars cast member Austin Lee Russell, better known as "Chumlee," has had various legal issues over the years, some resulting in severe consequences. Over the show's 13-year run, Chumlee was a familiar face at the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a childhood friend of Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison, Austin had worked at the shop for a few years before the beginning of Pawn Stars. Later on, the Nevada native's legal issues tarnished his reputation. Given it's been almost eight years, it's time to look back at what was going on with Chumlee.

Pawn Stars, which has been on the air since 2009, shows the ins and outs of a 24-hour pawn shop in Las Vegas. Since it's situated in a city that never sleeps, the store's staff members see some exciting items. Experts may be called in to appraise collectibles and other interesting items. They often share information about the history of objects, from sports memorabilia to vintage swords and beyond - their insights can be fascinating. Though Chumlee starred in Pawn Stars from the beginning, his legal issues didn't begin until 2016.

Pawn Stars' Austin Lee 'Chumlee' Russell Was Arrested In 2016

He's A Pawn Stars Bad Boy

In March 2016, Chumlee was arrested after his apartment was searched due to a sexual assault investigation. The police found various drugs and guns in his home. Chumlee was booked for possessing drugs and weapons rather than on any sex crime charges. That was because the sexual assault investigation was ongoing.

After making bail, Chumlee appeared in court, opting for a plea bargain. With regard to his felony weapons charge and attempted drug possession misdemeanor charge, he admitted to guilt on both counts. By pleading guilty, he could stay out of jail - however, instead of time behind bars, he'd need to attend counseling. Chumlee would also have to remain on probation for three years.

The sexual assault charges were not pursued due to insufficient evidence. However, this doesn't mean that he was innocent. Assault charges are notoriously difficult to prosecute. It's disheartening that Chumlee, who appears so jovial and fun on the show, has a dark side. Granted, people aren't always what they seem, including celebrities. Despite his legal issues, Chumlee's been given a chance to redeem himself, and he continues to appear on reality TV shows.

Pawn Stars' Austin's Legal Issues Continued

It Was A Long Saga

Chumlee also had to surrender his weapons and drugs to law enforcement. According to PopCulture, when the police seized his assets, they found registered and unregistered weapons. Chumlee wasn't allowed to own some of those guns. There were assault-style MP5 weapons and .223-caliber rifles in his collection.

Outside the show, Chumlee's a popular figure who's amassed 819K followers on Instagram. He uses his platform to engage with fans and promote various ventures, including his candy shop, Chumlee's Candy On The Blvd. He hawks merchandise and makes personal appearances. Before his legal issues brought him into the spotlight, he was known for his easygoing personality, sense of humor, and occasional antics on the show.

Chumlee Changed His Evil Ways After His Arrest

He's On The Straight & Narrow in 2024

In 2024, Chumlee's busy - he appeared in the spin-off, Pawn Stars Do America. Season 2 aired this year, with the finale,"Minneapolis Momentos," airing on April 24. In the spin-off, the Pawn Stars crew travel across America, encountering interesting people and items. It's a slice of Americana that's hard to resist. See Chumlee and his posse explore the USA in the trailer shown above.

Aside from Pawn Stars and its offshoot, Chumlee's still the proud owner of his candy store. However, some commenters at TripAdvisor aren't exactly impressed with his store, which features a "standee" of Chumlee beside its glass front doors. The boutique sells a range of brand-name treats. However, there wasn't enough to please one disgruntled visitor. They sounded off, saying:

Ever so disappointing. A tiny store with a very limited selection and I was expecting so much more. No way it is worth a special trip

The shop has an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, as per TripAdvisor. Most people probably drop by hoping that they'll see Chumlee. However, he's not behind the counter every day. Nonetheless, his shop appears to still be open this year, based on the review above, which was posted in February of this year.

Chumlee's Been Hanging Out With Rick Harrison

They Are Buddy-Buddy

Aside from selling candy and appearing on Pawn Stars Do America, Chumlee's enjoying his friendship with Rick Harrison. Rick's an intelligent man who's also a bit of a villain. So, it's not surprising that the two have a strong bond. The fact that his own mom took him to court, claiming that he kept her from getting money that was rightfully hers, makes him seem shady. The wily pawnbroker shot the breeze with Chumlee in the clip above, and was pranked by his Pawn Stars buddy. He offered him coffee loaded with sickly-sweet vanilla syrup - Rick didn't enjoy the beverage.

A Video Featuring Chumlee With Pokémon Cards Just Surfaced

Chumlee Has Plenty Of Legal Hobbies

Chumleecollects at Instagram posted a fun clip of a very thin Chumlee showing off some Japanese Pokémon cards. So many people love collecting these, including the controversial boxer and YouTuber, Jake Paul, who has appeared on a similar show, King of Collectibles. Chumlee's slim because he had bariatric surgery.

Before he had that procedure, he found it hard to participate in some activities. His motivation for getting a weight-loss operation was to open up more possibilities in his life. The surgery was a gastric sleeve procedure. He had the operation in 2021 - afterwards, he lost 150 pounds. Based on his recent social media content, he's maintaining his weight-loss results. Chumlee used to weigh 350 pounds.

According to People, Chumlee said that he'd been trying to lose weight naturally for a long time. He yo-yo dieted - he gained a lot of weight, such as 100 pounds, and then lost some. It was a tough cycle. He described it as a:

years-long battle

Chumlee also hit turbulence with his partner Olivia Rademann. In 2024, they don't appear to be together. Chumlee offered her a diamond ring in 2018, but they weren't destined to go the distance. She stood by her man as he faced legal problems, but they seemed to split up in 2020. Right now, Chumlee appears to be flying solo but he may be keeping his love life private.

Pawn Stars is one of the most highly-rated reality TV shows. However, its cast members are often embroiled in controversies, including Chumlee and Rick Harrison, who was sued by his mother. Pawn Stars season 23 is currently on the air, as of late July 2024, and Chumlee's in the mix.

Source: PopCulture, Chumleecollects/Instagram, TripAdvisor, Austin "Chumlee" Russell. People

Pawn Stars can be streamed on Discovery+.

Pawn Stars

TV-PG

Reality

Comedy

Where to Watch

• stream
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*Availability in US

Pawn Stars is a reality television series set in the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. The show stars Richard "Old Man" Harrison, his son Rick Harrison, and Rick's son Corey Harrison, who appraise and negotiate items brought in by customers. Each episode showcases a variety of artifacts, from historical items to pop culture memorabilia, providing insights into their history and value, while highlighting the family dynamics within the shop.

Cast

Rick Harrison , Corey Harrison

Release Date

July 19, 2009

Seasons

21

Main Genre

Reality