Diddy Arrested In New York For Racketeering Conspiracy, Sex Trafficking By Force, And More

After months of sexual assault lawsuits, allegations, and Homeland Security raids, Diddy has officially been arrested. The 54-year-old artist was taken into custody in New York City.

“Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” United States Attorney Damian Williams wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday evening (Sept. 16). “We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.” The Associated Press reported that the former REVOLT chairman was arrested in a hotel lobby in Manhattan.

Upon unsealing the indictment Tuesday morning (Sept. 17), it was revealed via ABC7 that the New York City businessman was arrested for racketeering conspiracy due to allegations of him running an enterprise including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, and other crimes. He was also charged with sex trafficking by force and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, claims that Puff “knew this was coming,” returning to New York from California two weeks ago in preparation. “We knew this day would come and it’s here,” he added. “He’s dealing with this head on the way he has dealt with every challenge in his life.”

Despite accepting their present circumstances, his legal team is committed to proving his innocence. “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,” Agnifilo said in a statement on Monday. “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 he is not a criminal,” Agnifilo added. “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.”

After the Monday evening arrest, Daily Mail shared a TikTok showing Diddy in Central Park before he was arrested. TMZ released footage of him hanging outside in NYC, seemingly in good spirits exchanging handshakes with unidentified men. One X user tweeted that he saw the former Making The Band star in the Van Cleef store.

Diddy was handed his first lawsuit for rape, sexual assault, and sex trafficking by ex-girlfriend Cassie in November 2023. The former couple settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount outside of court, but it was the first domino to fall, leading to seven more lawsuits being filed against the “I Need A Girl” artist. He shared a statement on Instagram denying all allegations, only for Homeland Security to later raid his Los Angeles and Miami homes due to a federal investigation. Footage of him abusing Cassie would soon follow.

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