Federal Agents Raid Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Homes in Los Angeles and Miami: Latest Updates

Homes owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs in Los Angeles and Miami were the target of raids conducted by officials from US Homeland Security on Monday 25 March as part of an ongoing federal sex trafficking investigation.

The sudden raids on the rapper and music mogul’s properties come amidst a series of accusations over the past six months, including allegations of sexual assault.

Here is a detailed look at the events:

Reason Behind the Raids

The raids on Diddy’s Los Angeles mansion, situated in the affluent Holmby Hills area near Bel Air and Beverly Hills, and his Miami Beach home on the exclusive Star Island, were conducted in connection with a federal sex trafficking investigation, according to reports from Fox 11.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security mentioned, “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.”

NBC News reported that federal officials had interviewed three women and a man in Manhattan, with three more interviews scheduled regarding allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.

Sources revealed that firearms were found on Diddy’s properties in LA and Miami, although details about the type of firearms and their legal ownership remain undisclosed.

It is still uncertain whether Diddy himself is the primary focus of the investigation.

Fox 11 also shared video footage from an overhead helicopter showing several individuals in handcuffs outside the property, including Diddy’s two sons.

Diddy also owns a vacant property in Atlanta, Georgia, purchased in 2003. Recent images depict dusty countertops and cobweb-covered chandeliers, but this property was not subject to the raids.

Whereabouts of Diddy

Speculation surrounding Diddy’s location arose following the raids.

Details about a private jet registered to the rapper were removed from a popular flight tracking website on Tuesday 26 March. The black, 20-seat Gulfstream Aerospace GV-SP is owned by LoveAir LLC.

According to TMZ, the jet was spotted on the ground in Antigua, in the Caribbean, shortly after news of the raids broke. Reports suggest that Diddy was not present on the jet at the time.

Flight data indicated that the jet had flown across California between Sunday 24 and Monday 25 March, departing from Sacramento Executive Airport on Sunday evening and landing at Palm Springs International Airport about an hour later. It then took off again, stopping at Van Nuys Airport before heading to Antigua.

On Tuesday, flight data for the jet was no longer publicly available. A notice on FlightAware.com stated, “This aircraft (N1969C) is not available for public tracking per request from the owner/operator.”

However, reports suggest that the plane returned to South Florida on Wednesday morning and has remained parked at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport since then.

Diddy was seen in public for the first time post-raids on Thursday night when he visited a Miami golf club, Top Golf, with his twin daughters.

Accusations Against Diddy

The 54-year-old rapper and music mogul has been confronted with a series of sexual assault allegations in recent months.

In February, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones accused Diddy of sexually assaulting him and coercing him into engaging with sex workers.

A federal lawsuit filed in New York detailed instances of unwanted groping and sexual touching by Diddy, alleging that the producer had to work in a bathroom while Diddy showered and roamed naked. Jones also identified Rapper 50 Cent’s ex-girlfriend as one of the alleged sex workers. She denied the claims and expressed intentions of pursuing legal action.

Another lawsuit from December claimed that Diddy had gang-raped a 17-year-old girl in 2003. The plaintiff, known as Jane Doe, accused Diddy of supplying drugs and alcohol at his New York studio before sexually assaulting her along with two others.

The suit highlighted a “sex trafficking scheme” in which Jane Doe was flown from Michigan to New York via private jet.

Additional individuals in the media industry have come forward with negative experiences, including Tanika Ray, a TV host and former backup singer for Diddy, who described her interactions with the rapper as “horrific.”

Moreover, a resurfaced video shows Diddy questioning a nervous Justin Bieber, allegedly aged 16 at the time, about his purported distance-keeping behavior.

Diddy has vehemently refuted all accusations and has not been formally charged with any criminal offense.

Lawsuit Involving Cassie

In November, Diddy settled a lawsuit with R&B singer Cassie, who accused him of trafficking, raping, and assaulting her over a decade.

Her lawsuit alleged that Diddy introduced her to a lifestyle filled with drugs and abuse not long after they met, subsequently signing her to his label in 2005 when she was 19 and he was 37.

Cassie claimed that the abuse began at the onset of their relationship and culminated in a violent incident in her Los Angeles home in 2018.

The accusations against Diddy were raised under the New York Adult Survivors Act, which allowed survivors to pursue civil litigation regardless of the period when the abuse occurred.

Over 2,500 cases were filed under the Act before its expiry, with survivors targeting prominent figures in entertainment, including Diddy.

The lawsuit involving Cassie and Diddy was resolved shortly after the Act’s deadline.

Statements from Diddy

Diddy has vehemently denied all allegations against him, asserting his commitment to defending his name and family.

In response to the raids, Diddy’s lawyers criticized the excessive use of force by US Homeland Security, labeling it as a “gross overuse of military-level force.”

“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,” his attorney stated.

Diddy is reportedly canceling his plans and staying in the US to confront any accusations related to gun, drug, and sex trafficking.

In a statement following the lawsuit by Jane Doe, Diddy condemned the claims as “sickening” and branded his accusers as seeking quick monetary gains.

His lawyer dismissed the lawsuit’s events as “pure fiction” and emphasized the provision of irrefutable evidence refuting the claims.

Following the settlement with Cassie, another attorney for Diddy clarified that settling a lawsuit does not equate to an admission of guilt.

“He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best,” the attorney expressed.