Diddy Arrested In New York City Following Grand Jury Indictment: What We Know So Far

Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday night in New York following a grand jury indictment. According to The New York Times, the music mogul was taken into police custody at a Manhattan hotel.
According to The Associated Press, Combs has been indicted on on sex trafficking and racketeering charges for his involvement in a disturbing array of sexual crimes. The indictment states the mogul “engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals,” abuse that was physical, as well as sexual, “to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”
The indictment explains the 54-year-old drugged female and male sex works to participate in multiple-days long sexual escapades called “Freak Offs.” It also references Combs abuse towards former girlfriend and singer Cassie Ventura.
Combs’ legal team issued a statement on the arrest, in which they shared their disappointment in the decision to prosecute the producer. They also noted that they cooperated with the investigation and “voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.”
“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,” the statement read. “He is an imperfect person but he is not a criminal.”
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams also shared a statement following the arrest, noting plans to unseal the indictment.
“Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” it said. “We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”
Agnifilio said Combs will likely be arraigned on Tuesday.
Combs’ arrest comes after the Bad Boy founder has been hit with various allegations of physical and sexual abuse. The accusations began in November, when Ventura, filed a lawsuit in which she claimed he was sexually and physically abused during their relationship, Blavity reported. Ventura asked for and was awarded $30 million in the case, after which five more women came out and filed lawsuits against Combs, accusing him of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, The New York Times reported.
In March, federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida. Authorities stopped him at a Miami airport and took his electronic devices.
They didn’t announce it at the time, but a federal official said their approach was part of a human trafficking investigation. At the time, an unidentified person close to the investigation confirmed New York federal prosecutors had interviewed several witnesses about the allegations against Combs.
Combs and his legal team have denied all allegations, describing them as “sickening” and from people after “quick payday.” After video footage of Combs assaulting Ventura surfaced online, Combs took to social media to apologize for the incident. In it, he said his behavior was “inexcusable” and shared he had sought professional help.
Over the last six months, federal prosecutors have been silently building their case against Combs, subpoenaing potential witnesses and gathering evidence under the radar.