Sean Combs, widely known as Diddy, was arrested on Monday evening in Manhattan following a grand jury indictment, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The music mogul’s arrest comes amid an ongoing federal investigation and a series of sexual assault lawsuits filed against him in recent months.
While the exact charges in the indictment have not yet been disclosed, Combs’ legal team expressed disappointment with the prosecution. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, released a statement emphasizing Combs’ cooperation throughout the investigation, stating that the rapper-turned-businessman voluntarily relocated to New York in anticipation of the charges.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Agnifilo said. “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
The arrest follows a wave of lawsuits, including a high-profile case filed in 2023 by Combs’ former girlfriend, singer Cassie (Casandra Ventura), who accused him of years of abuse and sex trafficking. Although Combs settled the lawsuit with Cassie within a day, denying any wrongdoing, additional legal pressures have mounted, with five more women filing sexual assault and misconduct lawsuits against him.
In March, federal agents raided Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami Beach as part of a human trafficking investigation. Authorities reportedly confiscated electronic devices and interviewed witnesses about the allegations. While details of the federal investigation remain under wraps, it is known that it includes accusations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.
Despite the growing scrutiny, Combs, 54, who was instrumental in shaping the commercial rise of hip-hop in the 1990s and early 2000s, continues to maintain his innocence. His legal team has vowed to fight the charges and clear his name in court.