Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, a 51-year-old man currently incarcerated in Michigan, has filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging that the entertainment mogul drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party in Detroit in 1997.
Cardello-Smith claims that he encountered Combs while working in the restaurant and hospitality industry in the Detroit area. According to court records, the lawsuit details how Cardello-Smith alleges he was drugged and assaulted during a party hosted by Combs.
During a virtual court hearing, Cardello-Smith claimed to have had a conversation with Combs regarding the lawsuit, where Combs allegedly acknowledged the allegations with a menacing response:
“You know how we get down.”
Cardello-Smith reportedly retorted, “I disagree with how you get down,” indicating that he would pursue the lawsuit despite Combs’s alleged threats.
In the wake of the filing, Cardello-Smith has garnered attention for his self-education in civil and criminal law while serving his current sentence at the Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon Heights. He has made claims that he had past interactions with Combs, even producing prison records showing Combs’s name logged in the visitation records. He claims Combs offered him $2.3 million to drop the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is part of a broader wave of accusations against Combs, highlighting serious allegations of exploitation and abuse from individuals who have come forward over the past few years.
Combs, known for his influential role in the music industry as the founder of Bad Boy Records, has denied the allegations, asserting that he has no knowledge of Cardello-Smith and has never been served with the lawsuit. As the case develops, it remains to be seen how these allegations will impact Combs’s reputation and legal standing.
Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ attorney, issued a statement dismissing Cardello-Smith’s allegations:
“This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years. His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed.”
This is a developing story.
References
- Allen Jr., E.B. and Proctor, B. (2024, September 9). Michigan inmate wins $100 million judgment against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for sexual assault. Detroit Metro Times.