Chumlee of ‘Pawn Stars’ arrested on drug, gun charges

Chumlee, from the Las Vegas-based reality television show “Pawn Stars,” was arrested Wednesday by Las Vegas police on 20 felony charges, the department said in a press release.

Chumlee, whose real name is Austin Lee Russell, was booked into Clark County Detention Center on 19 charges of drug possession and a single charge of possessing a gun by a prohibited person.

Police were serving a search warrant at Chumlee’s house as part of a sexual assault investigation and found methamphetamine, marijuana and firearms, Metro said.

Metro said 33-year-old reality TV star has not been charged with sexual assault, but the investigation is ongoing.

It was not clear Wednesday night why Chumlee was considered a “prohibited person” who was not allowed to possess a gun. A records search for Austin Russell in Clark County courts turns up only minor traffic offenses.

Chumlee quickly became a reality TV celebrity in 2009 when the show profling the daily operations of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, 713 S. Las Vegas Blvd., premiered on The History Channel.

Laura Herlovich, personal publicist for the store’s owners and Chumlee, declined to comment on the news of the arrest.

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Follow @ColtonLochhead on Twitter.