Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Indicted, Arrested on Federal Charges
Music Mogul Faces Unsealed Indictment Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the renowned music mogul, was arrested in Manhattan on Monday evening following a grand jury indictment. The specific charges against Combs remain undisclosed, but his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
“We are deeply disappointed by the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs,” Agnifilo stated in a press release. “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is an iconic figure in the music industry, a successful entrepreneur, a loving family man, and a dedicated philanthropist. He has spent decades building an empire, supporting his children, and uplifting the Black community. While he is not perfect, he is certainly not a criminal.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed the arrest, indicating that they would be seeking to unseal the indictment in the near future. Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney, stated, “Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY. We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”
Combs’ arrest comes amidst an ongoing federal investigation and a wave of lawsuits, primarily alleging sexual assault. One of the most recent accusers is Dawn Richard, a former member of the Danity Kane girl group, who filed a lawsuit against Combs on September 10, claiming verbal abuse, assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In addition to the recent lawsuits, Combs has faced previous allegations of sexual misconduct. In May, CNN released a 2016 video showing Combs physically attacking his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura. This video corroborated allegations made in a lawsuit filed by Ventura last year, which detailed an incident that occurred at a Los Angeles hotel. While the parties reached a settlement, Combs publicly apologized for his behavior in the video.
Multiple women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Combs since Ventura’s lawsuit. In November 2023, Joi Dickerson-Neal accused Combs of drugging, sexually assaulting, and abusing her, as well as distributing revenge porn. Another lawsuit filed by a Jane Doe alleged that Combs and R&B singer Aaron Hall raped her and her friends between 1990 and 1991. Combs has consistently denied all of these allegations.
In March of this year, federal agents raided properties owned by Combs in Miami and Los Angeles as part of a sex trafficking investigation. While Combs’ attorney, Aaron Dyer, characterized the raids as an “unprecedented ambush” and a “witch hunt,” Homeland Security Investigations confirmed that the searches were conducted as part of an ongoing investigation.
As the unsealing of the indictment draws closer, the full extent of the charges against Sean Combs will be revealed. The music mogul faces a legal battle that could have significant implications for his career and reputation.
