Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested by homeland security amid sex trafficking investigation

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By Kim Novak

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been arrested in New York amid a federal sex trafficking investigation.

Prosecutors revealed to the New York Post that the rapper, 54, voluntarily traveled to New York in anticipation of the arrest on federal charges following a grand jury indictment.

Combs was taken into custody at the Park Hyatt New York hotel by Homeland Security Investigations, which insiders say typically handles sex trafficking cases.

Earlier, the hip-hop mogul had been seen walking in Manhattan with his 26-year-old son, Christian 'King' Combs.

GettyImages-1641348632.jpgSean Combs has been arrested in New York. Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

It is not currently known what charges Combs is facing, however, he is expected to be arraigned at Manhattan federal court on Tuesday morning, when the indictment with the charges against him will be unsealed.

Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement: "Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY.

"We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time."

Combs has faced controversy in recent years, having faced accusations of sexual and physical abuse at the height of his career, while working as a producer to many of hip-hop's biggest names.

His former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, accusing him of rape, physical abuse, and trafficking, lasting over a decade.

Though the pair settled out of court a day after Ventura filed the suit, it was the first in a slew of other lawsuits from over half a dozen other alleged victims.

GettyImages-911211592.jpgCombs's ex, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him last year, which the pair settled just a day later. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Combs's mansions in Beverly Hills and Miami were simultaneously raided by Homeland Security in March 2024, though it was not revealed what agents were looking for in his homes.

In her lawsuit, Ventura had claimed that she'd suffered years of alleged abuse including repeated rapes, beatings, and being forced to engage in intercourse with male sex workers he'd hired while he filmed.

Combs had denied the allegations and the pair settled a day later, but video footage later emerged appearing to show Combs assaulting Ventura in a hallway in a hotel in 2016.

The distressing clip, released by CNN in May, showed Combs appearing to throw Ventura on the ground, before punching, kicking, and pulling her along the floor.

After the horrifying video was released, Combs posted a video of his own, apologizing for his actions.

The other accusers were notified in the same month that they could be brought to court by federal investigators to testify before a grand jury, after accusing Combs of crimes such as drugging and raping them, or forcing them to have sex with others, as well as filming sexual encounters without their consent.

The rapper had vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that the plaintiffs were "looking for a quick pay day," and has so far only settled Ventura's lawsuit.



Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a statement: "We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

"Sean 'Diddy' Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.

"He is an imperfect person but is not a criminal. To his credit, Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.

"Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court," the statement concluded.

Featured image credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images


Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested by homeland security amid sex trafficking investigation

vt-author-image

By Kim Novak

Article saved!Article saved!

Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been arrested in New York amid a federal sex trafficking investigation.

Prosecutors revealed to the New York Post that the rapper, 54, voluntarily traveled to New York in anticipation of the arrest on federal charges following a grand jury indictment.

Combs was taken into custody at the Park Hyatt New York hotel by Homeland Security Investigations, which insiders say typically handles sex trafficking cases.

Earlier, the hip-hop mogul had been seen walking in Manhattan with his 26-year-old son, Christian 'King' Combs.

GettyImages-1641348632.jpgSean Combs has been arrested in New York. Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

It is not currently known what charges Combs is facing, however, he is expected to be arraigned at Manhattan federal court on Tuesday morning, when the indictment with the charges against him will be unsealed.

Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement: "Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY.

"We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time."

Combs has faced controversy in recent years, having faced accusations of sexual and physical abuse at the height of his career, while working as a producer to many of hip-hop's biggest names.

His former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, accusing him of rape, physical abuse, and trafficking, lasting over a decade.

Though the pair settled out of court a day after Ventura filed the suit, it was the first in a slew of other lawsuits from over half a dozen other alleged victims.

GettyImages-911211592.jpgCombs's ex, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him last year, which the pair settled just a day later. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Combs's mansions in Beverly Hills and Miami were simultaneously raided by Homeland Security in March 2024, though it was not revealed what agents were looking for in his homes.

In her lawsuit, Ventura had claimed that she'd suffered years of alleged abuse including repeated rapes, beatings, and being forced to engage in intercourse with male sex workers he'd hired while he filmed.

Combs had denied the allegations and the pair settled a day later, but video footage later emerged appearing to show Combs assaulting Ventura in a hallway in a hotel in 2016.

The distressing clip, released by CNN in May, showed Combs appearing to throw Ventura on the ground, before punching, kicking, and pulling her along the floor.

After the horrifying video was released, Combs posted a video of his own, apologizing for his actions.

The other accusers were notified in the same month that they could be brought to court by federal investigators to testify before a grand jury, after accusing Combs of crimes such as drugging and raping them, or forcing them to have sex with others, as well as filming sexual encounters without their consent.

The rapper had vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that the plaintiffs were "looking for a quick pay day," and has so far only settled Ventura's lawsuit.



Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a statement: "We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

"Sean 'Diddy' Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.

"He is an imperfect person but is not a criminal. To his credit, Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.

"Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court," the statement concluded.

Featured image credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images