Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested on September 16, 2024, after pleading not guilty to a range of crimes pertaining to sex trafficking and abuse, he was denied bail and placed on temporary suicide watch. Where he’s being housed now is notorious for horrific conditions and squalid conditions.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement: “As alleged in the Indictment, for years, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice. Today, he is charged with racketeering and sex trafficking offenses. If you have been a victim of Combs’ alleged abuse—or if you know anything about his alleged crimes—we urge you to come forward. This investigation is far from over.”
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If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
Where is Diddy now?
Diddy is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a federal jail from which he was denied bail, while he awaits trial. As we said, the place has a really bad reputation (incidentally, it’s the same facility that houses crypto-fraud, Sam Bankman-Fried, convicted rapist R. Kelly, and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s right-hand-woman, Ghislaine Maxwell).
“I have a client who spent 25 years in federal prison somewhere else, and he’s like, ‘Get me the hell out of the MDC,’” defense lawyer Xavier Donaldson told NBC News. “It has a way of breaking people.” It’s used mainly for post-arrest detention for people awaiting trial in federal courts in Manhattan or Brooklyn.
The same day of the raids, TMZ published a video of the rapper pacing by himself outside the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, observing that he did not appear to be detained or in custody. His private jet—reportedly a LoveAir LLC Gulfstream G550—landed in Antigua without the rapper aboard.
Regarding the raids on March 25, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations told TMZ: “Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) 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.”
Local Los Angeles news station FOX11 shared a video that appeared to show several individuals in handcuffs near the property, two of them appearing to be Diddy’s sons, Justin and King Combs. They were not being investigated in connection to their father’s alleged crimes but were being detained outside as agents searched the property.
On March 27, the LA Times reported that the rapper “remains in the US”, though didn’t add any more details. “Sources with knowledge of the situation said Combs was scheduled on Monday to depart by plane for a spring break vacation with his school-age daughters but opted to delay the trip after learning of the search. He still has his passport, they added,” the paper observed.
While his phone was said to be seized by the authorities, he returned to Instagram on Sunday to share a photo of his 1-year-old daughter, Love, celebrating Easter.
The raids come after several allegations against the rapper were made. On November 16, 2023, Casandra Ventura, also known as R&B singer Cassie, filed a lawsuit in a New York federal court against Combs, whom she dated between 2005 and 2018.
She claimed he’d been sexually and physically abusive throughout their relationship, ranging from beating Ventura and forcing her to have sex with other men, to raping her at her home in 2018. They settled the next day, out of court.
“We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love,” Combs said in a Friday statement obtained by CNN, with his lawyer adding: “A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Ben Brafman said. “Mr. Combs‘ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
Diddy has been sued for sexual assault and harassment five times in four months, but he vehemently denies the claims. “There was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” his attorney, Aaron Dyer, said Tuesday in a statement provided to Fox News Digital, in response to the raids.
“There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.”
He continued: “Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way. This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,” he added.
Dyer concluded: “There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura and an anonymous plaintiff referred to as Jane Doe, issued this statement, per ABC7, after the raids: “We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”