James Cross
The lifestyles of the rich and famous often garner envy from those on the outside looking in. It seems glamorous, being able to do anything and everything you want to, often without fear of the consequences that too little money might bring. However, being rich brings additional scrutiny that sometimes – though not all the time – pans out into some very scary situations.
P. Diddy Under Suspicion
Sean Combs, a rapper who is also known by the stage name of “P. Diddy,” has recently been under raised suspicion in the wake of a slew of accusations from various people – men and women – who have accused him of both sexual assault and possible sex trafficking.
The investigation into these accusations has been taking place in the state of New York, in Manhattan federal court. Three women and one man have been interviewed in the state by authorities in connection to the possible sex trafficking, as well as solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.
A Raid on Diddy’s Homes
In pursuit of the investigation regarding these issues, federal agents recently raided homes owned by Combs in Los Angeles and Miami. This is in line with the criminal probe surrounding the issue, not merely fact gathering.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security was the agency that was authorized to raid the properties, and they were given permission by warrants issued in Manhattan federal court. This is months after a series of lawsuits accused Combs of serious sexual misconduct, according to law enforcement.
Phones Seized
Phones were seized from Combs in Miami before he was scheduled to leave for a trip to the Bahamas, according to a source close to the matter. The raid comes in anticipation of at least three more women, all identified as Jane Does by the Manhattan federal court investigating Combs.
“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 Miani, and our local law enforcement partners,” Homeland Security said in a statement.
Diddy Denies the Accusations
Combs has, of course, denied the allegations against him. But the raids come a month after a music producer named Rodney “Li Rod” Jones filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, claiming that Combs sexually harassed, drugged, and threatened him while they were living and traveling together.
While every American is, of course, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, the accusations from Li Rod fit a troublesome pattern regarding the rapper. Benjamin Brafman, a New York attorney representing Combs, hasn’t commented regarding the accusations.
Multiple Past Accusations
There have been multiple past accusations from both women and men regarding Combs. Cassandra Ventura, a singer, filed a lawsuit against Combs last fall, where she accused him of raping and sex trafficking her.
She ultimately settled the lawsuit against Combs out of court, but the accusations are still troubling. And, Douglas Widor, the lawyer who represented Ventura in that suit, has released a statement that he will be representing one of the “Jane Doe’s” in the federal probe against Combs.
Details of the Case
The specifics of the Ventura suit are even more horrifying when the details are understood. It said that in 2005, when Ventura was only 19 years old, Combs lured her into a professional relationship by signing her with his label, Bad Boy Records.
Ventura alleged that, within several years, Combs coerced her into a sexual relationship, and introduced her “to a lifestyle of excessive alcohol and substance abuse and required her to procure illicit prescriptions to satisfy his own addictions.”
More Details
The suit further claimed that Combs raped Ventura in her home after she tried to leave him, “blew up” another man’s car after learning of his romantic interest in Ventura, and often beat her to injury.
The suit was settled for undisclosed terms just one day after she filed the suit. That wasn’t the end of the accusations against Combs, though. After the settlement, two other women filed lawsuits against Combs, accusing him of sexual assault in their own circumstances.
A Statement From Lawyers
Lawyers working on behalf of Combs spoke up against the raids that took place at Comb’s homes. Aaron Dyer, Comb’s attorney, said in a statement, “Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities, or the way his children and employees were treated.”
The raid was conducted by heavy armored HSI agents, with some riding in on armored vehicles. This was, in part, because authorities believed that Combs employs armed private security at each of his residences, and wanted to protect their agents in the case of live fire.
Searching for Electronic Record
Agents were authorized to search for documents, phones, computers, and other electronic devices that hold data or videos, according to a law enforcement source. The searches were related to an ongoing sex trafficking investigation, making discretion of the utmost importance.
Dyer did state that Combs was “never detained” during the searches, but that he cooperated fully with the investigation and answered all questions that law enforcement presented him. “Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” Dyer’s statement said.
A Statement
The statement continued, “This unprecedented ambush – paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence – leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”
“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name,” the statement concluded.
An Overzealous Operation
Those close to Combs believe that the scale of the federal operation at both of his homes was “overzealous,” according to a source. They went on to repeat some of the criticisms of law enforcement that were found in Dyer’s official statement from the Combs camp.
Comb’s inner circle also believes that the media was tipped off about the search of his Los Angeles home. A news helicopter was hovering above his residence before law enforcement breached the property, according to the source.
Other High-Profile Names
Combs is not the only high-profile individual who has been named in association with these alleged crimes. The lawsuit from Rodney Jones also named other celebrities and famous people in relation to Combs’ alleged proclivities, including the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry.
While there have been no formal accusations towards any of the names in the lawsuit, including the Prince, their inclusion in the lawsuit doesn’t bode well. It’s entirely possible that more bombshells are coming regarding Combs and the sex trafficking investigation, despite Combs’ insistence of innocence.
Early Days of the Investigation
The raid is a drastic move on the part of Federal law enforcement, but the investigation is still in its early days. More news will be coming out in the months ahead, and Combs will likely stay under the microscope for some time yet.
Whether Combs will ultimately face any charges regarding the accusations remains to be seen. Cases of this nature often take years to build evidence and an argument for the crime, and Federal law enforcement has their work cut out for them. Charging someone as famous as Sean Combs with a crime is no small feat, and will require a solid case behind it if he is, in fact, guilty.
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