On Monday, Homeland Security agents raided Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ homes in Star Island, Miami, and Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. This shocking turn of events comes just four months after his ex-girlfriend Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura filed a lawsuit containing devastating allegations of sex trafficking against him, possibly prompting the Diddy investigation. The raid adds yet another layer of drama to the music mogul’s mounting legal woes.
The warrant for the raid was issued by New York’s Southern District federal court, the jurisdiction where Cassie and Joi Dickerson Neal both filed lawsuits against Diddy. Homeland Security made the following statement:
“On March 25, 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. We will provide further information as it becomes available.”
During the federal raid on Diddy’s Los Angeles residence, his adult sons, Justin Combs and Christian ‘King’ Combs, were handcuffed and held outside while the investigation took place. The 54-year-old was met by federal agents at an executive airport as preparing to travel to the Bahamas to spend Spring Break with his 17-year-old twin daughters, D’Lila and Jessie. However, the agents seized his mobile devices on the spot.
So far, Diddy accusers include:
- Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones filed a lawsuit alleging that Diddy sexually assaulted and threatening him on February 26. The $30 million suit also names Justin Combs, Sir Lucian Charles Grainge (father-in-law of Sophia Richie Grainge), Ethiopia Habtemariam, and Diddy’s chief of staff Kristina “KK” Khorram as defendants.
- Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, alleging that Combs of sex trafficking on November 16, 2023. He settled with her within 24 hours.
- Joi Dickerson Neal is accusing Diddy of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1991. She also alleges that he filmed the assault and distributed the footage as revenge porn. Her lawsuit was filed on November 23, 2023.
- Liza Gardner filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Diddy and Aaron Hall on November 23, 2023. Mr. Gardner alleges that she was “physically forced into having sex with Combs against her will” when she was 16-years-old and claims that she was subsequently raped by Hall.
- Gina Huynh, a former girlfriend of Diddy, made allegations of horrific abuse in a 2019 interview. Among other acts of violence, she claims Diddy stomped on her belly which she was pregnant.
- Cindy Rueda, Diddy’s former personal chef, filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles on May 08, 2017:. She accused him of sexual harassment. The matter was settled out of court.
Douglas Wigdor, Cassie’s attorney, was in favor of the Diddy investigation:
“We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”
Law enforcement sources haven’t ruled out the possibility of additional raids on Diddy’s Chicago and New York properties part of their ongoing investigation.
In an interview with Law & Crime Network, Mark Curry, a Bad Boy Records artist and the author of Dancing with the Devil: How Puff Burned The Bad Boys of Hip Hop, spoke candidly about Diddy:
“Is he controlling? Yes, he is. Will he put his hands on a female? Yes, he will. Will he put his hands on a male producer or anything? Yes, he will.”
Curry described Diddy as someone with a distinct lack of character. He explained:
“He’s a person with no empathy and he doesn’t feel that he has to answer to anything in life because […] money makes people feel powerful.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs maintains his innocence and has not faced any criminal charges related to the ongoing investigation.
Resources
- Carlos Greer, (2024, March 26.) ‘Diddy was planning Bahamas Spring Break getaway with his daughters before homes were raided.’ Page Six.
- Cheyenne Roundtree and Nancy Dillon (2024, March 25.) ‘Sean Combs’ Homes Raided as Part of Sex Trafficking Investigation.’ Rolling Stone.
- Nardine Saad, (2024, February 27.) ‘Diddy’s ‘Love’ producer Lil Rod accuses him and associates of sexual assault, illicit behavior.’ Los Angeles Times.
- Rachel DeSantis (2024, March 13) ‘Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accuser Files Amended Complaint Saying She Was a 16-Year-Old Minor During Alleged 1990 Rape.’ People Magazine.
- Francesca Bacardi (2023, November 17.) ‘Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ex Gina Huynh once claimed he stomped on her stomach, dragged her by hair.’ Page Six.
- Sierra Gillespie (2024, March 29.) ‘P.Diddy’s Ex-bad Boy Rapper Speaks On Sex Trafficking Allegations.’ Law & Crime Network.