Sean “Diddy” Combs, the renowned Hip Hop mogul and self-made entrepreneur, was taken into federal custody on Monday night in New York.
This surprising turn of events has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and beyond.
According to TMZ, Diddy was escorted to the FBI field office in Manhattan, where he faces an ongoing federal investigation into serious allegations.
This investigation, which has been unfolding for months, centers around alleged sex trafficking and other criminal offenses.
Search warrants were executed earlier this year at Diddy’s homes in Beverly Hills and Miami, marking a significant escalation in the case.
Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed deep disappointment with the decision to prosecute the music icon.
In a statement to TMZ, Agnifilo defended his client:
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 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 arrest follows a dramatic series of events that began with a grand jury indictment.
This indictment came in the wake of Homeland Security’s raids on Combs’ properties in late March.
These raids appeared to be spurred by a wave of sexual abuse lawsuits against the Bad Boy founder.
Notably, nearly a year ago, his former girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a high-profile lawsuit accusing Combs of sex trafficking and abuse.
Though Combs reached a private settlement with Ventura shortly after the lawsuit was filed, additional lawsuits have emerged.
Since then, seven more women and one man have come forward with allegations ranging from sex trafficking to sexual assault.
The Southern District of New York is leading the investigation, and reports indicate that a grand jury has been reviewing evidence related to the case since early July.
Federal agents have already executed search warrants on Combs’ properties, seizing phones and other evidence.
Combs’ attorney, Aaron Dyer, has criticized the raids as a “gross overuse of military-level force” and a “witch hunt based on meritless accusations.”
Diddy is currently trending as the public reacts to the reports of his arrest.
Read a few tweets below.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.
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