Sean 'Diddy' Combs Arrested by Federal Agents in New York

Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York City.

Combs was taken into custody at the Park Hyatt hotel on West 57th Street, where he had been residing for several weeks, as noted by a representative. He was reportedly surprised by the arrest.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams confirmed that federal agents arrested Combs on Monday evening based on a sealed indictment filed by the Southern District of New York.

“We plan to unseal the indictment in the morning and will provide further details at that time,” Williams stated.

Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed disappointment in a statement. He noted that Combs, 54, had been cooperative with the investigation and had “voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.”

“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, devoted family man, and committed philanthropist who has dedicated the last 30 years to building an empire, cherishing his children, and supporting the Black community,” the statement said. “While he is not without flaws, he is not a criminal.”

The specific charges for which Combs, the rapper-turned-music mogul, was arrested were not immediately clear.

Since November, Combs has faced a series of lawsuits, including one as recent as last week, alleging sexual assault and misconduct. This began with a federal lawsuit from former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, accusing him of years of physical and sexual abuse.

Ventura, known professionally as Cassie, was formerly signed to Combs’ Bad Boy record label. The lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed, with the terms of the settlement remaining confidential. Combs' attorney stated that the settlement did not imply any admission of wrongdoing, and Combs has previously denied the allegations.

Since then, several others have filed lawsuits against Combs, including Dawn Richard. Richard has alleged that Combs groped and threatened her during her employment from 2005 to 2012, and that she witnessed him violently assault Ventura. Combs has strongly denied these accusations, labeling them as “sickening allegations” from individuals seeking “a quick payday.”

In May, following the release of hotel surveillance footage by CNN showing Combs kicking, punching, and throwing Ventura on the floor in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016, he issued an apology via Instagram. In the video, which has since been removed, he described his behavior as “inexcusable” and mentioned that he had sought therapy.

Richard, who was a member of Danity Kane, a girl group formed by Combs on the MTV reality show “Making the Band,” and later of Diddy — Dirty Money, filed her lawsuit last week. Her attorney stated that Combs was “shocked and disappointed” by the lawsuit, which, like Ventura’s, portrays him as controlling and violent.

Ventura’s lawsuit also includes allegations of sex trafficking. She claimed that Combs frequently abused her, forced her to engage in sexual acts with male prostitutes— encounters Combs referred to as “freak offs” and sometimes recorded—and raped her in 2018 when she tried to end their relationship.

In her suit, Richard described attending “drug-fueled parties” where guests had to surrender their phones and alleged witnessing what she believed to be inebriated underage girls being sexually violated by Combs and his guests.

In March, federal investigators conducted searches at Combs' homes in Miami and Los Angeles.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, interviews were conducted with several individuals regarding allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms, as reported by NBC News in March.

The search warrants for Combs’ properties were issued by the Southern District of New York, NBC News has reported.

Combs, who is also known as Puffy, Puff Daddy, and Love, founded Bad Boy Records in the early 1990s. He is recognized as a pioneer in hip-hop, fashion, and media, having launched the Sean John clothing line and the Revolt TV channel, though he sold his stake in the channel earlier this summer.

In February, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who worked on Combs' most recent album, filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs made unwanted sexual advances, forced him to hire prostitutes, and pressured him to engage in sex acts with them. Jones claimed that he lived and traveled with Combs from September 2022 to November 2023, during which he recorded hours of video and audio documenting serious illegal activities involving Combs, his staff, and others.

Jones' attorneys, Rodney S. Diggs and Tyrone Blackburn, who are also representing other accusers, stated that Combs’ “long-awaited arrest” was “an important step towards justice for all of Mr. Combs’ victims.”

“We leave the criminal aspect of this case in the hands of the authorities and the justice system,” they said on Monday night. “For the civil cases, we await the revelation of facts and seek justice for our clients. We also expect more victims to come forward. The evidence is clear, and it was only a matter of time.”

Following the release of the hotel video showing Combs assaulting Ventura, Howard University severed ties with him. In June, the university revoked an honorary degree it had awarded him and dismantled a scholarship program in his name. Additionally, Combs complied with a request from New York Mayor Eric Adams and returned his key to the city.

This month, Combs listed his Los Angeles home, which was raided in March, for $61.5 million.