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Sean “Diddy” Combs Federally Charged With Sex Trafficking and Racketeering After New York Arrest
When Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie accused him of intersexual assault, artillery and enactment trafficking successful a Nov. 16 lawsuit, his lawyer said the Bad Boy Entertainment mogul "vehemently denied" her "offensive and outrageous allegations."
They reached a colony the adjacent day. The vocalist calved Cassandra Ventura, who dated Combs for the amended portion of a decade until their 2018 breakup, stated she'd chosen to resoluteness the matter "amicably connected presumption that I person immoderate level of control." Combs' lawyer said the colony was "in nary mode an admittance of wrongdoing."
But that was lone the opening of the No Way Out artist's current slew of ineligible woes.
On Sept. 17, Combs pleaded not blameworthy to federal enactment trafficking and racketeering charges aft his arrest the nighttime earlier successful New York, according to the Associated Press.
The charges were filed astir six months aft national agents conducted simultaneous raids connected Combs' homes successful Miami and Los Angeles. Authorities didn't officially corroborate astatine the clip that the searches were connected to what was by past a fistful of lawsuits that had been filed accusing Combs of intersexual assault.
"He’s going to combat this with each of his vigor and each of his mightiness and the afloat assurance of his lawyers," Combs lawyer Marc Agnifilo told reporters extracurricular the Manhattan courthouse Sept. 17.
Sons Quincy Brown, 32, Justin Dior Combs, 30, and Christian "King" Combs, 25, were seen arriving astatine the national courthouse earlier successful the time earlier Combs was owed to appear.
SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Agnifilo besides said that his lawsuit had purposely traveled to New York to "basically prosecute the tribunal strategy and commencement the case," which they knew was coming.
But first, determination were the lawsuits.
On the heels of Cassie's civilian tribunal action, Joi Dickerson-Neal accused Combs of drugging and assaulting her erstwhile she was a pupil astatine Syracuse University successful 1991, stating successful her suit filed Nov. 23, per NBC News, that Cassie's suit "forced her to look his battle again."
A spokesperson for Combs told E! News at the clip that Dickerson-Neal's communicative was "made up and not credible."
Plaintiff Liza Gardner filed suit the aforesaid day, alleging Combs and different vocalist sexually assaulted her astatine the latter's New York flat successful 1990 oregon 1991 pursuing a euphony manufacture event.
Dave Benett/Getty Images for TAO Group Hospitality
On Nov. 24, the New York Adult Survivors Act—which successful 2022 gave big intersexual battle survivors a one-year window to writer nary substance erstwhile the statute of limitations had passed for the alleged crime—expired. (The limit was 3 years earlier 2019 and has since been changed to 20, but not retroactively.)
In response, an lawyer for Combs told NBC News, "The claims involving alleged misconduct against Mr. Combs from implicit 30 years agone and filed astatine the past infinitesimal are each wholly denied and rejected by him. He recognizes this arsenic a wealth grab. Because of Mr. Combs' fame and success, helium is an casual people for accusers who volition falsify the truth, without conscience oregon consequence, for fiscal benefit. The New York Legislature surely did not mean oregon expect the Adult Survivors Act to beryllium exploited for improper purposes. The nationalist should beryllium skeptical and not unreserved to judge these unsubstantiated allegations."
On Nov. 28, Combs' Revolt TV network announced that helium was stepping down arsenic chairman. Combs, who cofounded the integer transmission successful 2013, didn't person an operational oregon day-to-day relation successful the business, Revolt said successful a statement, but "this decision helps to guarantee that Revolt remains steadfastly focused connected our mission" to make meaningful content for Black audiences everywhere.
Days aboriginal Combs was sued by a Jane Doe who alleged she was 17 erstwhile Combs, erstwhile Bad Boy statement president Harve Pierre and an unnamed man gang-raped and sex-trafficked her successful 2003. (In a statement, Pierre called the allegations "disgusting," "false" and a "desperate effort for fiscal gain," according to the Los Angeles Times.)
After the 4th lawsuit, Combs spoke out connected Instagram Dec. 6, calling the accusations "sickening" and charging that the plaintiffs were trying to "assassinate" his character in hunt of a "quick payday."
He concluded: "I did not bash immoderate of the atrocious things being alleged. I volition combat for my name, my household and for the truth."
The lawsuits different than Cassie's are inactive pending. But each was quiescent connected the eastbound and occidental fronts of Combs' empire for a mates of months.
Combs and Pierre filed respective responses to Jane Doe's suit connected Feb. 20, some denying her allegations. In his filing, according to NBC News, Pierre stated helium didn't enactment successful a intersexual battle of the woman, nor did helium witnesser one.
The plaintiff's lawyer Michael J. Willemin told NBC News successful a connection that the "deeply troubling allegations against the defendants by aggregate women" spoke for themselves.
Then Combs was sued for the 5th clip successful 4 months erstwhile producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones accused Combs successful a suit filed Feb. 26 successful a New York national tribunal of sexually harassing, drugging and threatening him for much than a twelvemonth portion helium worked connected the rapper's 2023 LP, The Love Album: Off the Grid.
An lawyer for Combs said successful reponse, "We person overwhelming, indisputable impervious that his claims are implicit lies."
And months later, days earlier his arrest, Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard filed suit against Combs alleging intersexual maltreatment and different misconduct. His lawyer said successful a Sept. 11 connection to E! News that his lawsuit was "shocked and disappointed" by her allegations.
"In an effort to rewrite history," the lawyer stated, "Dawn Richard has present manufactured a bid of mendacious claims each successful the hopes of trying to get a wage day—conveniently timed to coincide with her medium merchandise and property tour."
GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images
Meanwhile, federal agents raided Combs' Los Angeles and Miami mansions connected March 25 successful transportation with allegations of sex-trafficking and intersexual assault, a root acquainted with the substance told NBC News, arsenic good arsenic suspected solicitation and organisation of amerciable narcotics and firearms. Three women and 1 antheral had been interviewed successful the people of the investigation, according to the source.
Guns were recovered and confiscated from both properties and Homeland Security investigators seized Combs' phones successful Miami before he was scheduled to leave for a travel to the Bahamas, instrumentality enforcement sources told NBC News.
CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
Not naming Combs arsenic a target, Homeland Security Investigations New York confirmed successful a connection that the bureau "executed instrumentality enforcement actions arsenic portion of an ongoing probe with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our section instrumentality enforcement partners."
Meanwhile, Combs' lawyer Aaron Dyer slammed the raids arsenic a "gross overuse of military-level force."
"There is nary excuse for the excessive amusement of unit and hostility exhibited by authorities oregon the mode his children and employees were treated," helium said successful a connection to E! News. "Mr. Combs was ne'er detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor immoderate of his household members person been arrested nor has their quality to question been restricted successful immoderate way."
On the day his 17,000-square-foot location successful L.A.'s posh Holmby Hills vicinity and his waterfront Star Island property successful Miami were being searched, Combs was astatine Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport (where backstage jets travel and go), as seen successful video obtained by TMZ.
Two of Combs' sons were astatine the L.A. location when agents showed up and were made to hold outside, according to KTTV Fox 11, which captured aerial and crushed footage of the spot during the raid.
Dyer's connection continued, "This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature unreserved to judgement of Mr. Combs and is thing much than a witch hunt based connected meritless accusations made successful civilian lawsuits. There has been nary uncovering of transgression oregon civilian liability with immoderate of these allegations. Mr. Combs is guiltless and volition proceed to combat each azygous time to wide his name."
It's unclear if Combs ever took disconnected for the Bahamas, but the father of 7 was spotted astatine Topgolf successful Miami connected March 28 with his duplicate 17-year-old daughters D'Lila and Jessie. (Their ma was Kim Porter, who died successful 2018.) He flashed a bid motion astatine the paparazzi.
Combs publicly marked Easter Sunday by sharing photos of his youngest child, girl Love, whom helium welcomed with exemplary Dana Tran in December 2022. The Instagram descent amusement featured Love successful several pink and floral outfits signaling that it's springtime.
In April 2023, the Holmby Hills location was the country of an intimate listening enactment for Combs' The Love Album: Off the Grid, an autarkic merchandise from his statement Love Records and his archetypal workplace medium since 2006's Press Play.
He told his guests, per the Los Angeles Times, that his intent was to "bring emotion backmost to R&B music."
The medium dropped Sept. 15, 2 months earlier Cassie filed her lawsuit. Read connected for each the details of the probe that resulted successful transgression charges for Combs:
GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images
Search Warrants Executed connected Diddy’s L.A. and Miami Properties
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed hunt warrants astatine Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami properties connected March 25, aggregate instrumentality enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News.
The sources told the outlet the warrant was retired of the Southern District of New York, and a spokesperson for HSI New York confirmed to E! News it “executed instrumentality enforcement actions arsenic portion of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our section instrumentality enforcement partners.”
Law enforcement sources told NBC News the euphony mogul was successful the Miami country erstwhile the hunt warrants were executed.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
News astir the probe broke aft Combs faced allegations of intersexual misconduct successful lawsuits filed by aggregate accusers starting successful November, with the instrumentalist denying the allegations.
“Sickening allegations person been made against maine by individuals looking for a speedy payday,” helium wrote successful a December connection posted connected Instagram. “Let maine beryllium perfectly clear: I did not bash immoderate of the atrocious things being alleged. I volition combat for my name, my household and for the truth.”
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
Diddy’s Attorney Speaks Out
The time aft HSI executed the hunt warrants astatine Combs' L.A. and Miami properties, his lawyer spoke out.
"Yesterday, determination was a gross overuse of military-level unit arsenic hunt warrants were executed astatine Mr. Combs' residences," attorney Aaron Dyer said successful a March 26 connection to E! News. "There is nary excuse for the excessive amusement of unit and hostility exhibited by authorities oregon the mode his children and employees were treated."
Dyer noted Combs “was ne'er detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.”
“Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor immoderate of his household members person been arrested nor has their quality to question been restricted successful immoderate way,” his lawyer's connection continued. “This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature unreserved to judgement of Mr. Combs and is thing much than a witch hunt based connected meritless accusations made successful civilian lawsuits.”
Toni Anne Barson/Getty Images
And Dyer expressed Combs' intent to support himself.
“There has been nary uncovering of transgression oregon civilian liability with immoderate of these allegations,” helium added. “Mr. Combs is guiltless and volition proceed to combat each azygous time to wide his name.”
Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Sean "Diddy" Combs
Details About the Raid Revealed
As for what really went down during the searches, aggregate instrumentality enforcement sources acquainted with the warrant told NBC News authorities with the Department of Homeland Security seized phones from Combs’ location successful Miami earlier helium was scheduled to question to the Bahamas, and respective sources acquainted with the substance added that guns were discovered during the search.
Matt Baron/Shutterstock
One root acquainted with the substance besides told NBC News 3 women and 1 antheral were interviewed by prosecutors and investigators from the Southern District of New York astir allegations of enactment trafficking, intersexual assault, the solicitation and organisation of amerciable narcotics and firearms purportedly tied to Combs.
Miami-Dade Police Department
Diddy’s Associate Brendan Paul Arrested connected Suspicion of Drug Possession
On the aforesaid time the hunt warrants were executed astatine Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles properties, 1 of his associates, Brendan Paul, was arrested by the Miami-Dade constabulary connected suspicion of cause possession, a instrumentality enforcement root acquainted with the substance told NBC News.
According to the Miami-Dade apprehension affidavit obtained by the outlet, Paul was taken into custody for allegedly possessing suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana candy.
Prison records obtained by NBC News amusement Paul was released connected March 26 aft posting bond.
“We bash not program connected trying this lawsuit successful the media,” Paul’s lawyer Brian Bieber said successful a connection obtained by the outlet, “all issues volition beryllium dealt with successful court.”
In May, Paul accepted a plea deal, with his lawyer Bieber telling People, "Brendan accepted the prosecutor’s connection to licence his introduction into the diversion programme which, aft completion, the lawsuit against him volition beryllium dismissed successful its entirety."
Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Sean "Diddy" Combs
Diddy Arrested successful New York
He was arrested successful the lobby of a New York edifice connected Sept. 16, 2024, according to NBC News. It's unclear what Combs has been charged with and if the apprehension has immoderate imaginable transportation to the raids.
“We are disappointed with the determination to prosecute what we judge is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office," his lawyer Marc Agnifilo said successful a connection to E! News. "He is an imperfect idiosyncratic but Is not criminal. To his recognition Mr. Combs has been thing but cooperative with this probe and helium voluntarily relocated to New York past week successful anticipation of these charges."
The lawyer added, "Please reserve your judgement until you person each the facts. These are the acts of an guiltless antheral with thing to hide, and helium looks guardant to clearing his sanction successful court.”
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Diddy Charged With Sex Trafficking & Racketeering
After Combs was arrested based connected the sealed indictment, the indictment was unsealed connected Sept. 17.
The 54-year-old was charged with racketeering conspiracy; enactment trafficking by force, fraud oregon coercion; arsenic good arsenic proscription to prosecute successful prostitution, according to tribunal documents obtained by NBC News.
The indictment alleged Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others astir him to fulfill his intersexual desires, support his reputation, and conceal his conduct” for much than a decade, with prosecutors saying the purported behaviour started astir 2008.
"To bash so," the documents stated, "Combs relied connected the employees, resources, and power of the multi-faceted concern empire that helium led and controlled—creating a transgression endeavor whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to prosecute in, among different crimes, enactment trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."
According to NBC News, Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo told reporters extracurricular the New York courthouse that the Grammy victor would plead not guilty.
“He’s going to combat this with each of his vigor and each of his might,” the lawyer added, per the outlet, “and the afloat assurance of his lawyers."
(E! and NBC News are some members of the NBCUniversal family.)
(Originally published April 2, 2024, astatine 4 a.m. PT)
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