LOS ANGELES (CNS) – After being investigated by federal authorities for months, Sean “Diddy” Combs has been charged Tuesday with sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy, alleging he ran an “enterprise that he engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor or, kidnapping, arson and other crimes,” according to the indictment unsealed in a New York court.
Combs, who has a home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, was taken into custody by federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations at the Park Hyatt hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Monday, ABC News reported.
The United States Attorney’s office issued a statement Monday regarding Combs.
“Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement. “We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”
Combs is awaiting arraignment in federal court in New York on Tuesday. A federal grand jury in Manhattan returned an indictment against Combs, ABC News reported.
The charges remain sealed.
In May, Combs apologized after the release of disturbing 2016 surveillance video taken in a Century City hotel, which appears to show the rapper and producer physically assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Diddy said in an Instagram video posted Sunday morning. “I was f_____ up. I mean I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. Disgusting. I was disgusting then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.
“I went and I sought out professional help. I’m going to therapy, going to rehab. I have asked God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry, but I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
Los Angeles County prosecutors said no criminal charges were forthcoming against the rapper and producer over the incident since too much time has passed.
In March, federal authorities searched the Holmby Hills estate of Combs, but officials at the time did not disclose the nature of the investigation.
Agents from the Department of Homeland Security carried out the raid March 25 in the area of Mapleton Drive and Sunset Boulevard. Video from the scene showed numerous law enforcement officials, a possible armored vehicle and several people detained outside the home. It was unclear if any actual arrests were made.
TMZ reported that a home owned by Diddy in Miami was also raided in March as part of the investigation.
Following a civil lawsuit filed by Ventura, at least 10 more lawsuits were filed against Combs. He has denied the allegations in all of the lawsuits. The suit by Ventura was settled shortly after it was filed.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, responded to the arrest of his client in a statement, calling it “an unjust prosecution.”
“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. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community, Agnifilo said in the statement.
“He is an imperfect person, but he Is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court,” Agnifilo added.
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