Agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security have launched an investigation into hip-hop singer Sean “Diddy” Combs, searching his houses in Los Angeles and Miami, agency officials announced on Monday.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in New York spearheaded the investigation, which began when a former girlfriend filed a federal lawsuit against Combs in November, accusing him of 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.
Los Angeles television stations showed aerial camera footage of HSI officers and other law enforcement officials storming Combs’ palatial mansion in the city’s affluent Holmby Hills district.
The Los Angeles City News Service stated that numerous persons were detained outside the home, although it was unclear whether any arrests were made.
According to local media, federal agents executed a search warrant at the rap mogul’s Miami-area mansion. Reuters video showed officers entering and exiting his residence on Miami Beach’s Star Island, with agents taking a box of documents from the premises.
Diddy’s 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.
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.
