DeBarge Brothers Arrested in California on Drug Charges

​Members of R&B royalty faced a harsh encounter with law enforcement late last month when legendary music siblings James and Chico DeBarge were arrested in Burbank, California, on suspicion of drug possession.

​The late-night traffic stop occurred around 1:30 a.m. when local police pulled over a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 63-year-old James, which was towing a Nissan SUV occupied by 60-year-old Chico. According to law enforcement sources, neither vehicle displayed license plates, and neither brother was wearing a seatbelt.

​During the subsequent investigation, officers reported finding what they suspected to be fentanyl and methamphetamine. Both men were taken into custody on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, and both SUVs were impounded. Chico was additionally booked on an outstanding warrant.

​The latest arrests cast another shadow over the celebrated musical legacy of the DeBarge family, who dominated the charts in the 1980s and 1990s with soulful R&B staples like “Rhythm of the Night” and “I Like It”. While James and Chico helped build a golden era of Motown-infused pop-soul, their later years have frequently been marred by well-documented struggles with substance abuse and brush-ins with the law. Chico has previously been open about his battles with addiction, which included a federal prison sentence on narcotics charges.

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​Despite the police findings, representatives for Chico have pushed back against the narrative surrounding the arrest. His management team issued a statement denying any involvement with illicit substances, claiming the accompanying warrant stemmed strictly from a non-drug-related civil matter and asserting that the singer has maintained a clean lifestyle.

​Authorities have not yet announced formal court dates or released further details regarding the chemical analysis of the recovered narcotics.