On September 16, 2024, Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in New York by federal brokers, and his indictment costs have been launched shortly after. In line with NBC Information, Combs was charged with three felony counts: racketeering, intercourse trafficking, and transportation to interact in prostitution. The grand jury indictment was unsealed on September 17.
The information got here amid the rapper and music producer’s authorized woes, together with a 2023 lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who claimed that he sexually assaulted her. Though he denied the claims and settled the case, Combs is beneath investigation by Homeland Safety.
Discover out extra about Diddy’s authorized troubles under.
Was Diddy Arrested?
Diddy was arrested on Sept. 16, and the costs in opposition to him have been revealed when he was taken into custody on Tuesday, Sept. 17. In line with court docket filings obtained by the outlet, he and his accomplices participated in “intercourse trafficking, compelled labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
The music mogul is presently in custody on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn.
His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, instructed reporters on the time of his arrest, “He got here to New York to principally have interaction the court docket system and begin the case, and it’ll begin as we speak, and he’s going to plead not responsible.” Agnifilo added, “He’s going to combat this with all of his vitality and all of his would possibly and the total confidence of his legal professionals.”
Why Was Diddy’s Home Raided?
BREAKING
Federal brokers have raided the house of Sean “Diddy” Combs in Los Angeles.
TMZ is reporting they’ve additionally raided his residence in Miami. pic.twitter.com/w6hwKiRLwe
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 25, 2024
Homeland Safety didn’t publicly clarify the explanation behind its raid on Diddy’s residence. Nonetheless, the company launched a press release to a number of retailers concerning the incident.
“Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) New York executed regulation enforcement actions as a part of an ongoing investigation, with help from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our native regulation enforcement companions,” Homeland Safety defined in a press release, per CNN. “We’ll present additional info because it turns into obtainable.”
In line with NBC, a supply instructed the outlet that “three girls and a person have been interviewed by federal officers in Manhattan in relation to allegations of intercourse trafficking, sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of unlawful narcotics and firearms.” The outlet additionally reported that Homeland Safety and federal brokers executed search warrants at Diddy’s L.A. and Miami properties. Following the raid, it was reported that regulation enforcement discovered firearms at each of the rapper’s residences.
What Did Diddy Do?
Whereas the 2024 Homeland Safety investigation is ongoing, Combs beforehand made headlines for a number of allegations of sexual assault in late 2023. That November, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Ventura filed a lawsuit in opposition to him within the Federal District Courtroom in New York Metropolis for alleged rape and abuse.
In line with court docket paperwork from Ventura’s lawsuit, she accused Combs of “beating her” and “forcing her to have intercourse” with “male prostitutes” whereas Diddy allegedly recorded the sexual “encounters.” On the time when Ventura and Combs started courting when she was 19 and he was in his 30s. The exes had an on and off relationship for a number of years.
In response to the claims, Combs defended himself in an Instagram assertion—which now seems to have been deleted.
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” he wrote. “For the final couple of weeks, I’ve sat silently and watched folks attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my popularity and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made in opposition to me by people on the lookout for a fast pay day. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged. I’ll combat for my identify, my household and for the reality.”
Diddy’s lawyer, Ben Brafman, additionally launched a press release as nicely, denying the sexual assault allegations.
Shortly thereafter, Ventura and Combs settled the case that month. Nonetheless, in December 2023, one other girl got here ahead with accusations of sexual assault in opposition to Combs. She claimed that he raped her in 2003 when she was 17.
By early 2024, Diddy was dealing with 5 accusations of sexual assault.
Now, costs have been piling up. Diddy might be dealing with greater than 100 new lawsuits simply two weeks after his arrest by federal brokers in New York. As just lately as October 14, the embattled music mogul has been hit with six bombshell lawsuits filed within the Southern District of New York, accusing him of raping, drugging, sodomizing, and threatening to kill alleged victims. The incidents detailed within the complaints span from 1995 to 2021.
Among the many accusers is a person who was 16 on the time of the alleged incident and a girl who was a 19-year-old school scholar when she alleges Combs raped her in a Manhattan lodge room in 2004. The entire alleged incidents occurred in New York Metropolis or the Hamptons, in keeping with the fits. Two of the lawsuits embrace incidents alleged to have occurred at Combs’ lavish Labor Day “White Events” at his Hamptons property.
When you or anybody you realize has been sexually abused, name the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A skilled employees member will present confidential, judgment-free assist in addition to native sources to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
When you or somebody you realize is experiencing home violence, please name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assist.