Homeland Security Investigations carried out raids on homes connected to Hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in Los Angeles and the Miami area on Monday.
However, detailed information regarding the investigation, including whether Mr. Combs was a primary target or the specific criminal charges under scrutiny, was not disclosed.
Mr. Combs, alternatively recognised as Puff Daddy or Diddy, has faced allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking in various civil lawsuits over recent months.
The criminal investigation was being overseen by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York in collaboration with federal agents from Homeland Security, according to a law enforcement official.
Nicholas Biase, the spokesperson for the Southern District, opted not to provide any additional comments regarding the situation.
A representative for Mr. Combs also did not provide a comment in response to a request.
According to Homeland Security, agents from New York conducted “law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners”.
Video footage from Fox 11 (KTTV), a local television station in Los Angeles, depicted armed officers entering a residence in the Holmby Hills area of the city, reportedly linked to Mr. Combs, as confirmed by a law enforcement official.
Public records in California further indicate that the property is owned by a company headed by Mr. Combs.
The raids mark a significant turn in the career of Mr. Combs, aged 54, who is renowned as a producer, label executive, and occasional rapper. Over the past three decades, he has stood out as one of the most influential and recognisable figures in the music industry.
Mr. Combs played a pivotal role in the evolution of hip-hop into a global commercial powerhouse, contributing to the creation of hits and larger-than-life personas for artists in the rap and R&B genres, including the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.
Additionally, he achieved massive success with his own chart-topping tracks, such as “I’ll Be Missing You” (1997), a poignant tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. following his tragic death in a drive-by shooting.
The song, featuring Faith Evans, the rapper’s widow, sampled the Police’s iconic hit “Every Breath You Take”.
Ms. Ventura’s lawsuit alleges that Mr. Combs coerced her into participating in sexual activities with male prostitutes over several years.
The suit contends that as a consequence of these encounters, which occurred in various cities across the United States, Ms. Ventura was a victim of s*x trafficking.
Ms. Ventura’s civil lawsuit was swiftly settled within a single day, with both parties, her and Mr. Combs, announcing that they had resolved their dispute “amicably”.
Despite the quick resolution, the case, outlined in a comprehensive 35-page complaint, garnered global attention and posed a threat to the business reputation Mr. Combs had diligently cultivated over the years.
Leading up to Ms. Ventura’s lawsuit, Mr. Combs had received industry accolades and launched his first studio album in 17 years.
Despite its resolution, Ms. Ventura’s lawsuit was succeeded by multiple additional cases, each alleging sexual assault against Mr. Combs. In a recent filing last month, music producer Rodney Jones accused Mr. Combs of unwanted sexual contact and coercion to hire prostitutes and engage in sexual activities with them.
In the wake of these allegations, many of Mr. Combs’s business associates have opted to distance themselves from him in recent months.
Federal investigators in New York have taken the lead in the investigation, conducting interviews with potential witnesses regarding s*xual misconduct allegations against Mr. Combs for several months, as reported by an individual familiar with the interviews.
Mr. Combs has vehemently denied the allegations leveled against him. In response to a lawsuit filed in December by an anonymous woman accusing Mr. Combs and two other men of raping her in a New York recording studio in 2003 when she was 17, the music mogul stated:
“Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged.”
Following Mr. Jones’s lawsuit last month, Shawn Holley, a lawyer representing Mr. Combs, characterized Mr. Jones as “nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday,” dismissing his accusations as “pure fiction”.
Despite multiple requests for comment on Monday, Ms. Holley and two other attorneys representing Mr. Combs did not provide any responses.
According to a statement issued on Monday, attorney Douglas Wigdor, representing both Ms. Ventura and the anonymous woman who sued Mr. Combs over an alleged assault at a New York studio, expressed backing for law enforcement’s pursuit of justice against lawbreakers.
He stated, “We will always stand by law enforcement’s efforts to prosecute individuals who have violated the law.
“Hopefully, this marks the initial steps toward holding Mr. Combs accountable for his reprehensible actions.”
The residence in Miami Beach that was searched is located on Star Island, known for its opulent mansions in Biscayne Bay, a favoured destination among celebrities and affluent individuals.
On Monday, the typically serene atmosphere of the area was disrupted by the presence of a Homeland Security Investigations van with flashing red-and-blue lights, law enforcement officials wearing blue windbreakers, and at least two agents accompanied by dogs.
Additionally, journalists could be seen scattered across its palm-lined lawns.
A comparable scene unfolded near Mr. Combs’s residence in Los Angeles, as by late afternoon, a few dozen individuals, predominantly journalists, congregated in the upscale neighbourhood of Holmby Hills.
They found themselves unable to cross the yellow caution tape stretched across South Mapleton Drive.
A few Los Angeles Police officers cordoned off the road leading to Mr. Combs’s property.
Passersby showed interest, with drivers of luxury SUVs slowing down to capture photos of the commotion.
Situated just a mile east of the University of California, Los Angeles, the neighbourhood is no stranger to attention.
With a roster of celebrity residents, it’s where Hugh Hefner once hosted extravagant parties at the Playboy Mansion and where Michael Jackson resided in a château shortly before his passing.
Most estates are ensconced behind gates, lush greenery, or vine-covered stone walls—symbols of privacy in a community renowned for its exclusivity.
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