Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday night in New York City by federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations, ABC News has confirmed.
“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 was arrested at the Park Hyatt hotel in Midtown Manhattan, sources said. He will spend the night in federal custody before he is brought to court for arraignment Tuesday, sources told ABC News.
A federal grand jury in Manhattan returned an indictment against Combs, which set in motion his arrest, sources told ABC News.
The charges remain sealed.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, addressed the news 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.
Combs has been under investigation for the better part of a year since his former, longtime girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, came forward with allegations in a civil lawsuit. At least 10 additional lawsuits followed. Combs has denied the allegations in all of them.
Back in March, Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided by federal agents, authorities previously said.
A Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson said in a statement at the time that the raid was executed as part of an “ongoing investigation.”
Law enforcement sources told ABC News, also in late March, that federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations seized a number of electronic devices as part of the court-authorized searches of Combs’ two properties.
The searches, carried out in Los Angeles and Miami, were part of a federal sex trafficking investigation into the hip-hop and liquor mogul, the sources said.
HSI agents flooded Combs’ mansions and gathered evidence as part of an investigation led by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.
On the morning of March 15th, federal agents descended upon New York City to arrest music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on charges of tax evasion and money laundering. The arrest sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, as Combs is one of the most successful and influential figures in the music business.
According to the indictment, Combs allegedly failed to report millions of dollars in income to the IRS over a period of several years. The charges also allege that he used his record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, to launder money and conceal the true source of his income.
Combs, who is known for his flashy lifestyle and extravagant parties, has long been a target of scrutiny by the IRS. In recent years, he has faced several lawsuits and investigations related to his finances, but this is the first time he has been arrested on criminal charges.
The arrest of Combs is a stark reminder that even the most successful and high-profile individuals are not above the law. The charges against him are serious and could have far-reaching consequences for his career and reputation.
In response to the arrest, Combs’ legal team released a statement denying the allegations and vowing to fight the charges in court. They maintain that he has always paid his taxes and conducted his business affairs in a lawful manner.
The arrest of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs serves as a cautionary tale for other celebrities and high-net-worth individuals who may be tempted to cut corners or engage in illegal activities to maintain their lavish lifestyles. It also highlights the importance of transparency and compliance with tax laws, no matter how successful or wealthy one may be.
As the case against Combs unfolds, the public will be watching closely to see how it impacts his career and legacy in the music industry. In the meantime, the arrest serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.
