Federal agents have raided Sean "Diddy" Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami. The large operation saw the deployment of helicopters and several members of law enforcement, news footage showed.
According to TMZ, the hip-hop mogul’s homes were raided on Monday in what is reportedly a sex trafficking investigation. Sources told the outlet that local law enforcement is involved, with Homeland Security in the lead. The warrants were reportedly issued in Manhattan federal court (Southern District of New York).
Although it’s unclear if Diddy was present during the raid, TMZ later reported that Diddy's private jet (LoveAir LLC) was located in the Caribbean—more specifically Antigua. According to the publication, which viewed flight activity, the plane is grounded on the island but has not been officially registered as having landed. That, of course, doesn't mean that Diddy himself is on the plane.
He was also filmed pacing outside the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on Monday after the raids had begun. According to TMZ, the footage was captured at around 6 p.m. ET on Monday, a couple of hours after the raids began. Sources told the outlet that Diddy and others were stopped by the feds, and those people were questioned at the Customs office at the airport. It’s unknown who he was with, but the clip doesn't show him being detained.
The outlet reports that he and his group were stopped at Opa Locka and he boarded a separate private jet before Homeland Security arrived. As of the time of the video, Diddy wasn’t under arrest.
In a photo captured on Fox 11’s live news segment, it appeared as if Diddy's sons, King and Justin Combs, were handcuffed at the mogul's Los Angeles home.
"Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our local law enforcement partners. We will provide further information as it becomes available," Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said in a statement shared with Complex.
One John Doe and four Jane Does have spoken to authorities with the Southern District of New York in the investigation, which includes allegations of domestic violence and racketeering, in addition to the aforementioned sex trafficking allegations, Rolling Stone reports a source as saying.
Last November, Cassie filed a bombshell lawsuit against Diddy in which she alleged that he abused her for years, from 2005 to 2018. The two quickly agreed on a settlement the following day, details for which were not disclosed. However, an onslaught of cases came forward after that, with more people subsequently accusing Diddy of sexual abuse in two more filings.
Doug Wigdor, an attorney for Cassie Ventura as well as another Diddy accuser, shared a statement after news of the raids broke. "We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law," Wigdor said, per Fox 11. "Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct."
In February, Diddy was hit with a lawsuit by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who accused Diddy of sexually harassing, drugging, and threatening him. Lil Rod named additional defendants, including Diddy’s son, Justin. Yung Miami, Cuba Gooding Jr., Stevie J, and others were also mentioned in the suit.
In an update that arrived this week, Lil Rod's lawyer, Tyrone A. Blackburn, alleged that Diddy dispatched "his agents to harass [Jones’] 8-year-old daughter, the mother of his child, and ex-spouses."
Complex has reached out to Diddy's reps for comment regarding the raids.
This post may be updated.
