American entertainment mogul Sean ‘Diddy Combs was arrested in Manhattan, New York City, on Monday evening after a grand jury handed down a sealed indictment, deciding there was enough evidence to charge him with a crime.
According to the New York Times, a source familiar with the case said Combs is facing serious charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking.
The charges remain undisclosed due to the sealed nature of the indictment.
Combs’s legal team disappointedly responded to the indictment, asserting that the 54-year-old had fully cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation.
In a statement, they revealed that Combs had voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of the charges. His defence emphasized his standing as a celebrated music icon, a successful entrepreneur, and a dedicated family man.
“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,” his legal team stated. “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.”
The indictment represents a new chapter in a growing legal storm surrounding Combs, who has recently been embroiled in multiple sexual assault lawsuits, which have drawn renewed public and media scrutiny starting from last year November when his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit accusing him of years of sexual and physical abuse.
These civil allegations have already led to a series of high-profile professional setbacks for the music mogul.
The racketeering and sex trafficking charges, if confirmed, could carry devastating consequences for his decades-long legacy in the entertainment industry.
Combs, known by his stage names Puff Daddy and Diddy, is a Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, and entrepreneur whose business ventures have ranged from music to fashion and liquor brands.
He is widely credited with shaping the careers of numerous artistes and revolutionising hip-hop culture.
While no trial date has been set, the indictment signals that federal prosecutors are moving forward with the case.
