Sean 'Diddy' Combs' properties in L.A. and Miami raided by federal
agents
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[March 26, 2024]
By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents have
opened an investigation of hip-hop star Sean "Diddy" Combs, searching
his properties in Los Angeles and the Miami area, agency officials said
on Monday.
The inquiry was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in
New York, where a lawsuit was filed against Combs by a former girlfriend
in federal court in November accusing him of engaging in sex
trafficking.
Combs, 54, has said that he is innocent and that his accusers were
seeking "a quick payday." His New York-based lawyer, Ben Brafman, did
not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
Television stations in Los Angeles carried aerial video footage showing
HSI agents and other law enforcement authorities raiding Combs' lavish
estate in the city's upscale Holmby Hills neighborhood.
Los Angeles City News Service reported several people were detained
outside the home but it was unclear whether any arrests were made.
Local news outlets reported that federal authorities also executed a
search warrant at the rap mogul's Miami-area home. Reuters footage
showed officers going in and out of his property on Miami Beach's Star
Island, with agents seen carrying a box of material from the home.
Combs' whereabouts during the raids were not known.
HSI spokespersons, responding to a Reuters query, said: "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."
The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation. HSI
has broad jurisdiction to investigate the illegal movement of people,
goods, money, technology and contraband into, out of and throughout the
United States, including sex trafficking.
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Media members work as law enforcement officers stand behind police
tape outside a property connected to hip-hop star Sean "Diddy" Combs
after U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents opened an
investigation, in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles,
California, U.S. March 25, 2024. REUTERS/Carlin Stiehl
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Mar/26/images/ads/current/graue_buickenvision3244_032524.jpg) R&B vocalist Cassandra Ventura sued
Combs in federal court in Manhattan in mid-November, accusing him of
subjecting her to physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape during a
10-year professional and romantic relationship.
One of the central allegations of Ventura's suit was that Combs
forced her to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes he hired
while he watched and filmed the encounters.
The lawsuit cited violations of sex trafficking and human
trafficking statutes under federal, New York and California laws.
Ventura and Combs, who has used such monikers as P. Diddy, Puff
Daddy and Diddy, announced the next day they had settled the case
under confidential terms.
Brafman, said at the time that the settlement was "in no way an
admission of wrongdoing" and that his client maintained his
"flat-out denial" of Ventura's claims.
Ventura's lawsuit was one of at least four civil complaints in
recent months leveling sexual assault allegations against Combs.
In December, in response to the latest civil complaint, which
accused him of taking part in the gang rape of a teenager that he
arranged to fly from Detroit to New York 20 years ago, Combs issued
a statement denying all the allegations as fabrications by people
seeking money.
Combs, founder of the landmark label Bad Boy Records, is one of the
most influential producers and executives in hip-hop and a hugely
successful performer, as well as the impresario of his own Sean John
clothing line.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by
Maria Cardona in Miami Beach. Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Gerry
Doyle)
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