On September 16, 2024, Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in New York by federal brokers, and his indictment prices had been launched shortly after. In keeping 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 underneath investigation by Homeland Safety.
Discover out extra about Diddy’s authorized troubles under.
Why Was Diddy Arrested?
Diddy was arrested on September 16, and the costs towards him had been revealed when he was taken into custody on Tuesday, September 17. In keeping with his indictment, he and his alleged accomplices participated in “intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice” all whereas allegedly working a “legal enterprise.”
The music mogul is at the moment in custody on the Metropolitan Detention Middle in Brooklyn.
His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, instructed reporters on the time of his arrest, “He got here to New York to mainly interact the courtroom system and begin the case, and it’ll begin at the moment, and he’s going to plead not responsible.” Agnifilo added, “He’s going to combat this with all of his power and all of his may and the total confidence of his attorneys.”
Why Had been Diddy’s Homes 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 an announcement to a number of retailers in regards to 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 an announcement, per CNN. “We’ll present additional info because it turns into obtainable.”
In keeping 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 towards him within the Federal District Court docket in New York Metropolis for alleged rape and abuse.
In keeping with courtroom 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 fame and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made towards me by people in search of 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 title, my household and for the reality.”
Diddy’s lawyer, Ben Brafman, additionally launched an announcement as properly, 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 towards 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, prices have been piling up. Diddy may very well be dealing with greater than 100 new lawsuits simply two weeks after his arrest by federal brokers in New York. As not too long ago 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 lady who was a 19-year-old faculty pupil when she alleges Combs raped her in a Manhattan lodge room in 2004. All the alleged incidents occurred in New York Metropolis or the Hamptons, in line with the fits. Two of the lawsuits embody incidents alleged to have occurred at Combs’ lavish Labor Day “White Events” at his Hamptons property.
For those who or anybody has been sexually abused, name the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A educated employees member will present confidential, judgment-free help in addition to native sources to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
For those who or somebody is experiencing home violence, please name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential help.
