Chumlee, whose real name is Austin Lee Russell, had a very public legal scare in 2016 when police searched his Las Vegas home during a sexual-assault investigation and found drugs and unregistered firearms; the sexual-assault allegation did not stick, and later reports said the charges were dropped or reduced. He did not die, and recent coverage says he is alive, still based in Las Vegas, and has remained tied to Pawn Stars rather than disappearing from it.

What happened

  • In March 2016, police raided his home as part of an investigation.
  • Media reports described meth, marijuana/Xanax, and guns being found at the residence.
  • The big rumor that he was “done forever” or had been killed off is not accurate.

Where he is now

  • Later writeups in 2025–2026 say he is alive, doing well, and still part of the Pawn Stars world.
  • He has also been seen making appearances tied to the shop in recent years.

The simplest version

He got hit with serious legal trouble years ago, but he did not vanish from life or from the show, and current reporting places him alive and active in Las Vegas.