Inside Diddy’s Legal Case, the Allegations Made Against Him and Investigation Updates
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ world halted after his Miami and Los Angeles homes were raided by Homeland Security in connection with a federal sex trafficking investigation in March 2024. The news – though shocking to some – was the latest in a string of lawsuits placing the rapper at the center of alarming allegations, and spectators want to know more about the investigation and its updates.
Why Was Diddy’s House Raided?
On March 25, 2024, Diddy’s homes in Florida and California were raided by Homeland Security Agents, sparking a flurry of media activity surrounding the music producer. The search was part of a federal inquiry in connection to sex trafficking allegations against Combs, and his attorney Aaron Dyer made it clear in a statement that Combs felt the raid’s level of intensity was unwarranted.
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” Dyer’s statement began. “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."
The statement 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. 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.”
What Has Diddy Been Accused of in the Past?
Allegations against Diddy date back to the 1990s, as alleged connections to weapons, violence and abuse surrounded him. In 1999, Combs’ first run-in with the law took place, and he was charged with second-degree assault and criminal mischief for allegedly beating music executive Steven Stoute with a champagne bottle. He admitted to his role in the attack and received a sentence of one day of anger management classes.
That same year, Combs faced four weapons charges after a shooting took place in New York. Combs was dating Jennifer Lopez at the time, and the “horrifying scene” left her scarred. While companion Jamal “Shyne” Barrow was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Combs was acquitted of all charges.
Combs was once again back in the gaze of law enforcement in 2015 when he avoided felony assault and battery charges stemming from an altercation with UCLA Bruins assistant coach Sal Alosi. By 2019, Combs faced the first of what would be many accusations of relationship abuse, first stemming from ex Gina Huynh who alleged that he was “mentally, emotionally and physically” abusive.
Though Combs never addressed Huynh’s allegations, he would yet to face the full scope of accusations from past partners. In November 2023, ex Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a lawsuit against the rapper and alleged that he had both sexually assaulted her and sex trafficked her through their 10 years together. Ventura also claimed in her lawsuit that Combs raped her in 2018, forced her to have sex with male escorts and physically abused her. Combs maintained that he was innocent of all allegations, but he settled the lawsuit with his ex in less than a day.
Just weeks later, Joi Dickerson-Neal also came forward with allegations against Combs, claiming that the rapper drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1991. A month later, an unnamed woman claimed that Combs, former Bad Boy president Harve Pierre and an additional unnamed man took turns gang raping her when she was just 17 years old. Pierre, for his part, denied the allegations.
“This is a tale of fiction,” Pierre said in a statement in December 2023. “I have never participated in, witnessed, nor heard of anything like this, ever. These disgusting allegations are false and a desperate attempt for financial gain. I will vigorously protect my reputation and defend my name. Those who know me recognize that these claims are not true.”
The same day as the unnamed woman’s allegations were made public, Combs released a statement in response to all the claims made against him.
“Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” Combs stated. “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
Combs’ time spent without additional allegations made against him was short-lived, as in February 2024, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed a lawsuit against him for $30 million. Jones claimed that Combs sexually assaulted him, and also named Combs’ son Justin Dior Combs in the lawsuit.
Justin Combs’ lawyer said that any claims made against him were “categorically false,” and Combs’ legal team released an additional statement on the lawsuit.
“Mr. Jones is nothing more than a con man, shamelessly looking for an easy and wholly undeserved payday. We have indisputable, incontrovertible proof that his claims are complete fabrications. Our attempts to share this proof with Mr. Jones’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, have been ignored, as Mr. Blackburn has refused to return our calls. We look forward to addressing these ridiculous claims in court, and intend to take all appropriate action against all who are attempting to peddle them.”
The raid on Combs’ homes took place just one month later.
The most recent of the seven women who filed a lawsuit against Diddy is former adult film entertainer Adria English. According to documents obtained by In Touch, Adria accused Diddy of sexual assault and sex trafficking.
Adria claimed that she and her boyfriend auditioned to be models for Diddy’s clothing brand, Sean John, where he allegedly told them to perform oral sex in order to book the job. They both declined. However, Adria was then allegedly offered to work at Diddy’s notorious White Party in the Hamptons. She claimed to have worked there from 2004 through 2009 where she was allegedly forced to have sex with prominent guests and “passed” around.
Diddy’s attorney, Jonathan Davis, denied Adria’s allegations on his client’s behalf.
“No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof,” Jonathan told In Touch. “Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court.”
Has Diddy Been Charged With a Crime?
Diddy was arrested by Homeland Security on September 16, 2024, in a New York City hotel room.
According to the unsealed indictment obtained by In Touch, Diddy was hit with federal charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. A Grand Jury alleged that the mogul had abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to “fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.”
The indictment accused the “I Need a Girl” artist of a consistent and widespread pattern of mistreatment toward women, including verbal, physical and sexual abuse.
“To do so, [Diddy] relied on the employees, resources and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled — creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
The Grand Jury alleged that Diddy manipulated and lured women to participate in “Freak Offs,” which were carefully organized events involving sexual activities with male commercial sex workers, from 2009 to the present day. The filing said Diddy’s team and assistants were responsible for booking hotel rooms for “Freak Offs” and sex workers were allegedly often transported across state lines. Diddy “arranged, directed, masturbated during” and often filmed the “Freak Offs,” according to the indictment.
During searches of Diddy’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles, law enforcement “seized various Freak Off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant,” according to the paperwork.
In Touch exclusively reported on September 17, 2024, that the government filed a letter to the judge explaining that the music mogul not be released on bond, alleging he was a serious flight risk.
Following his arrest, Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, maintained his innocence, telling TMZ, “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. 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.”
Diddy Being Held Without Bail Until Trial
The rapper appeared in court in New York for his arraignment hearing on September 17, 2024, where he pleaded not guilty to all three sex trafficking and racketeering charges. During the hearing, the prosecutors revealed that authorities had found what appeared to be ecstasy and other drugs in Diddy’s hotel room during his arrest.
Additionally, Agnifilo addressed the 2016 hotel surveillance footage of his client apparently physically assaulting Cassie, claiming that there was more to the story. He alleged that “Victim One,” assumed to be Cassie, went through Diddy’s phone and discovered his infidelity. She then allegedly hit him on the head with his own cell phone and took his clothes, which allegedly led to the fight in the hallway. Agnifilo claimed that Cassie had also cheated on Diddy. He also claimed that the sexual encounters Diddy allegedly forced women into were consensual.
Federal prosecutors and Diddy’s lawyers also spent time during the hearing arguing over whether or not he should be released on bail or held until trial. After nearly two hours of hearing from both sides, the judge ruled that Diddy would be held until trial. Prosecutors deemed the rapper a potential flight risk and believed that he had the power to intimidate witnesses and obstruct the case if released.
“Mr. Combs is a fighter,” Agnifilo said, adding that the Bad Boy Records founder was “innocent.” “He’s going to fight this to the end. “He came to New York to establish his innocence. … He’s not afraid of the charges. There’s nothing that the government said in their presentation today that chances anyone’s mind about anything. He’s been looking forward to this day; he’s been looking forward to clearing his name, and he’s going to clear his name. We’re going to stand by his side as he does.”
Agnifilo submitted a new plea for Diddy’s release on September 18, 2024. According to the letter obtained by In Touch, the rapper offered to submit to weekly drug tests and restrict female visitors to his Miami mansion if released. Diddy’s attorney also said that his client is “in treatment and therapy,” according to People.
“Mr. Combs is not a perfect person. There’s been drug use, there’s been toxic relationships – which I think were mutual in their toxicity as these things often are,” Agnifilo said, adding that Diddy getting help “at the ripe old age of 54 should be applauded.”
Inside Diddy’s Life in Prison
Diddy is being held in a special housing unit separate from the general population at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, due to fears for his safety, former warden Cameron Lindsay told TMZ. Cameron told the outlet that Diddy’s fame and the nature of the allegations against him make him a target among other inmates. Some might even consider killing Diddy to be a “badge of honor,” the former warden added.
In Touch obtained the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus for the prison. The options for inmates’ first meal of the day include fruit, cereal, breakfast cakes, skim milk and coffee. For lunch, they can have scrambled eggs, a chicken wrap, chicken patty sandwich, black bean burger, baked chicken, baked fish or beef tacos, depending on the day.
The dinner options include chili mac, Sailsbury steak, turkey roast, pasta, beef and broccoli or chicken fried rice, with cheese pizza with spinach served on weekends. The sides offered include coleslaw, biscuits, fruit, green beans, pinto beans, rice, green peas and corn.
Additionally, In Touch obtained Diddy’s limited commissary list. He has the option of purchasing a six-pack of water for $4.50, decaffeinated coffee for $3.55 or powered milk for $5.75. For food, he can buy sugar-free honey for $3.70, jalape?o wheels for $3.20, peanut butter for $3.15, Velveeta cheese blocks for $3.70, chicken stock cubes for $1,80, tuna in Thai chili sauce for $2.50, turkey log with honey pepper for $2.70, a hot and spicy beef sausage log for $2.55, a Spam pouch for $1.50, hot chili with beans for $1.95 or unsalted crackers for $1.95.
There are also various other food items on the menu, including candy bars and other snacks. He can splurge on the rib steak meal for $9.95, bone-in chicken meal for $5.45 or the dark chocolate bar for $2.25.
Diddy can also purchase clothes, including sweatshirts for $16.15 and thermal pants for about $8. New Balance sneakers are sold for $55, as well as a radio for $15.60. Personal hygiene and care items for sale include body wash, soap, razors and hair brushes.
If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more.
