- Celebrities. Diddy arrested in New York amidst federal investigation
- Celebrities. Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrest and abuse allegations: A timeline of key events
After months of allegations and investigations, federal authorities have arrested Sean "Diddy" Combs, apprehending him in a New York City hotel. The arrest raises the stakes significantly amid continuing probes into Diddy's affairs -- which have already seen his wealth take an enormous hit.
Combs, the founder of the influential Bad Boy Records label, has come under fire since Homeland Security raided his Miami and Los Angeles homes back in March. And in May, an eight-year-old video resurfaced that showed Combs violently beating ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura -- the pair later reached a settlement out of court. But that now appears to be the least of Diddy's worries.
The charges against Diddy
Variety has revealed the breadth of charges facing Diddy, who is facing three counts in New York. The 54-year-old has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking of children, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
"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," Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo said. "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."
Combs has been hit with several lawsuits over the past nine months, with some alleging illegal activities that date back to the early 1990s. Federal investigators were roped in during the spring, and a grand jury began poring over evidence that could lead to Diddy's arrest in July -- around the time he was hit with another civil lawsuit by a former pornographic actress.
It all adds up to a distressing time for Diddy, whose legal team is currently focused on securing bail for their client after the indictment against him was unsealed.