Feds Raid Properties Linked to Sean “Diddy” Combs Amidst Sex Trafficking Probe
Federal Homeland Security Investigations agents, along with other law enforcement personnel, conducted raids on Monday at two properties associated with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. These searches, carried out in Los Angeles and Miami, are part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation led by federal authorities in New York, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
While the exact nature of the investigation remains undisclosed, Homeland Security Investigations confirmed that the raids were part of an ongoing probe, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and local law enforcement partners. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment on the matter.
Lawyers and representatives for Combs have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the raids.
The Los Angeles property, situated in the affluent Holmby Hills neighborhood near Beverly Hills, was cordoned off by police. Helicopter footage from KABC-TV depicted Homeland Security Investigations agents gathered in the backyard of the residence, with a command post established outside. Agents were seen entering and exiting the premises throughout the operation.
Combs has faced a series of sexual assault lawsuits in recent months, including allegations from a music producer who claimed Combs coerced him into soliciting prostitutes and engaged in sexual activity. Combs’ attorney, Shawn Holley, vehemently denied these allegations, stating they were “complete lies.”
In a separate lawsuit, Combs’ former protege and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, accused him of years of sexual abuse, including rape. The lawsuit was settled shortly after it was filed. Another accuser alleged that Combs raped her two decades ago when she was 17.
Douglas Wigdor, an attorney representing Cassie and another woman who sued Combs, expressed hope that the raids marked the beginning of a process to hold Combs accountable for his alleged misconduct.
The connection between the ongoing sex trafficking investigation and the specific allegations raised in the lawsuits against Combs remains unclear.
Combs, formerly known as Puff Daddy, has been a significant figure in the hip-hop industry for over three decades. He founded Bad Boy Records and has collaborated with numerous top-tier artists. Additionally, he established the fashion clothing line Sean John, launched the Revolt TV channel, and produced the reality show “Making the Band” for MTV. His latest album, “The Love Album – Off the Grid,” was released last year, receiving critical acclaim and garnering a Grammy nomination.
The outcome of the federal investigation and its implications for Combs’ career remain subjects of intense speculation as the story continues to unfold.
