Sean “Diddy” Combs was taken into custody on Monday, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York City.
The arrest occurred at the Park Hyatt hotel on West 57th Street, where Combs had been residing for several weeks, according to sources familiar with the situation. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that Combs was detained by federal agents following a sealed indictment from the Southern District of New York.
“We plan to unseal the indictment tomorrow morning and will provide further details then,” Williams stated.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, expressed frustration over the arrest, noting that the 54-year-old music mogul had been cooperative throughout the investigation and had moved to New York the previous week in anticipation of the charges.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a renowned musician, successful entrepreneur, dedicated family man, and generous philanthropist who has devoted the last three decades to building his empire, supporting his children, and enhancing the Black community,” Agnifilo’s statement read. “He is not a criminal, despite his imperfections.”
The nature of the charges against Combs, the former rapper and music mogul, remains unclear at this time.
Since November, Combs has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits, including one filed last week accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. The lawsuit, brought by his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, alleges years of physical and sexual abuse. Ventura, also known as Cassie, had been signed to Combs’ Bad Boy record label. The two settled the lawsuit the day after it was filed, but the terms were not disclosed. Combs has denied the allegations.
Additional lawsuits have followed, including one from Dawn Richard, who claimed Combs groped and threatened her during her employment from 2005 to 2012 and witnessed him violently assault Ventura. Combs has dismissed these claims as “sickening” and suggests they are attempts to exploit him financially.
In May, following the release of hotel footage showing Combs assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hallway, Combs issued an apology on Instagram, calling his actions “inexcusable” and revealing he had sought therapy. The apology video has since been removed.
Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and later Diddy — Dirty Money, filed a lawsuit last week describing Combs as controlling and violent.
Ventura’s lawsuit also includes allegations of sex trafficking, claiming that Combs frequently abused her, forced her into sexual acts with male prostitutes—referred to as “freak offs” by Combs—and raped her in 2018 while she was trying to end their relationship.
Richard’s lawsuit describes attending drug-fueled parties where phones were confiscated and witnessing underage girls being sexually assaulted by Combs and his guests.
In March, federal agents conducted searches of Combs’ properties in Miami and Los Angeles, interviewing various individuals regarding allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and illegal drug and firearm activities.
The search warrants were issued by the Southern District of New York, according to NBC News.
Combs, who has been known by several names including Puffy, Puff Daddy, and Love, founded Bad Boy Records in the early 1990s. He has been influential in hip-hop, fashion, and media, launching the Sean John clothing line and creating Revolt TV, which he sold earlier this summer.
In February, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, a producer on Combs’ latest album, filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of making unwanted sexual advances, pressuring him to hire prostitutes, and coercing him into sex acts with them. Jones, who traveled and lived with Combs from September 2022 to November 2023, recorded extensive video and audio evidence of illegal activities involving Combs and his associates.
Jones’ attorneys, Rodney S. Diggs and Tyrone Blackburn, who represent several of Combs’ accusers, stated that the arrest was a significant step towards justice for the victims. They anticipate more accusers coming forward and expressed confidence in the clarity of the evidence.
Following the release of the hotel video, Howard University severed its ties with Combs, rescinding an honorary degree and dismantling a scholarship program named in his honor. Additionally, Combs returned a key to the city at the request of New York Mayor Eric Adams. This month, Combs also listed his Los Angeles home, which was raided in March, for $61.5 million. Read more…