Criminal Allegations Against Sean “Diddy” Combs

May 2, 2024 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements, Sex Crimes Social Share

What started with one lawsuit in November of 2023 has led to a lengthy list of criminal allegations against hip-hop music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs. Now facing accusations stemming from six separate lawsuits, the music mogul is being accused of sexual assault, physical abuse, and sex trafficking.

The Federal Government recently intervened when agents with the Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) raided several of the celebrity’s homes, including one in Miami. While there still haven’t been any formal arrests made in the case, we will provide information pertaining to what crimes Combs is being accused of.

What are the Allegations?

There have been several lawsuits filed against Diddy, as well as several criminal allegations, with some stemming from over 20 years ago. The following provides some insight into all the crimes the music producer is alleged of committing:

• Lawsuit from former girlfriend – In November 2023, Diddy’s former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, filed a “blockbuster lawsuit” against him. In the suit, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, claimed that Diddy made her suffer through a “cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking” over the course of their relationship. Ventura alleged that the abuse began when they first began working together professionally, when she was 19 and he was 37. Venture claims that Combs “lured her into an ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle, and into a romantic relationship with him—her boss, one of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry, and a vicious, cruel, and controlling man nearly two decades her senior.” The court filings allege that Combs raped Ventura in her own home after trying to leave him, along with being punched, kicked, beat, and stomped on. Ventura says the physical abuse resulted in bruises, burst lips, black eyes, and bleeding.

The lawsuit also highlighted that Combs would force Ventura to participate in parties with sex workers, flying them to “multiple cities in the United States as well as abroad.” Combs settled this lawsuit the day after it was filed, claiming that the two decided to handle matters amicably. However, Ventura addressed that her reasoning for coming forward so late is because the experience “will forever haunt her” and that she “required intensive medical and psychological care to recover from the trauma she lived through.”

• Three more sexual assault lawsuits – Not long after Ventura’s accusations, three more women came forward with their own stories involving Combs. All filed reports of alleged sexual assault against the producer. One woman—who has remained anonymous—alleged that Combs and his former executive producer, Harve Pierre, trafficked her when she was only 17 from Detroit to New York in 2003, where she was allegedly gang-raped.
• Federal lawsuit filed by former producer – In February 2024, the producer who helped Combs work on his 2022 project “The Love Album,” Rodney Jones, filed a federal lawsuit against Diddy. He claims that during this project, Combs would make Jones “seek out sex workers and attend all-night parties, during which Combs would give alcoholic beverages laced with drugs to the women who attended, including minors.” Jones also accused Combs of possessing and distributing “unregistered illegal firearms.”

Homeland Security Raids Multiple Homes Belonging to Diddy

Two homes belonging to Combs were raided by federal agents. The producer’s Miami and Los Angeles homes were searched for evidence in connection to a potential sex-trafficking investigation.

However, there have yet to be any arrests made in the case. Instead, images of Combs have surfaced from TMZ showing the producer “chilling outside with a towel draped over him, smiling, holding up a peace sign and posing for photos in Miami.”

Since the raid, there have been new allegations claiming that Combs abetted an alleged sexual assault case involving his son. This makes it the sixth lawsuit against Combs within the span of five months. This time, Combs is being accused of chartering a yacht where his son, Christian Combs, was accused of assaulting Grace O’Marcaigh while she was employed on the boat as a yacht stewardess.

Despite the new claims, Combs went ahead and released a new music video called “Victory,” where he is depicted running from the police in Los Angeles and posting a subsequent image on Instagram with the caption, “Bad Boy for Life.”

However, just because there haven’t been any immediate arrests made does not mean the investigation is over. According to Dallas attorney Michelle Simpson Tuegel, who has worked on multiple “high-profile sexual assault cases,” claimed that it will likely take federal investigators several months to sort through the electronic evidence, as well as interviewing both witnesses and accusers.

“When you’re dealing with someone like him who may have [multiple] cellphones, multiple systems, multiple laptops, and who just conducts a lot of business and probably has a lot of communication, there’s going to be a lot of digital information,” Tuegel said.

Tuegel added that with federal cases, it can take over a year to gather and analyze all digital evidence. However, the quick response of the federal home raid suggests that things may be moving at a faster speed than other federal cases.

Combs’ attorney, Aaron Dyer, gave a statement claiming that the newest lawsuit was just “another lewd and meritless claim” against the family.

“This complaint is filled with the same kind of manufactured lies and irrelevant facts we’ve come to expect from Blackburn,” Dyer said. “…We will be filing a motion to dismiss this outrageous claim.”

Tyrone Blackburn, the attorney for the lawsuit filed by Rodney Jones, told NBC News that “it gives us no joy or pleasure in filing this suit against Christian Combs who has clearly adopted his father’s pattern and practice of depravity.”

The attorney for O’Marcaigh’s case, Rodney S. Diggs, told NBC, “I am here to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves and I applaud Grace for being so brave to come forward with her truth.”

We will continue to provide updates regarding the criminal investigation of Combs.

State vs Federal Sex Trafficking Penalties

Human trafficking is a criminal offense that can be prosecuted by both the Sate and the Federal Government. Both jurisdictions consider human trafficking a form of modern-day slavery.

The Federal penalties are outlined under 18 U.S.C.§1590 to state:

“Whoever knowingly recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means, any person for labor or services in violation of this chapter shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.” If the alleged trafficking offense includes a kidnapping, sexual abuse, death, or an attempt to commit any of those, the defendant can face federal imprisonment for life. Additionally, any person who obstructs or tries to interfere with the enforcement of this section shall be subject to the same penalties under this section.

In Florida, the penalties for “any person who knowingly, or in reckless disregard of the facts, engages in human trafficking, or attempts to engage in human trafficking, or benefits financially by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture that has subjected a person to human trafficking” faces a first-degree felony. However, Florida Statute Section 787.06(8) specifies that the offense shall be reclassified one degree higher if the alleged human trafficking offense results in great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to another person.

Important: The defendant’s ignorance of the victim’s age, the misrepresentation of the victim’s age, or their bona fide belief of the victim’s age cannot be used as a defense strategy.

To read more about human trafficking in Florida, refer to our page here.

Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, FL

Allegations of sexual abuse will not be taken lightly. If you or someone you know has been accused of sexual assault or another sex crime in Florida, do not hesitate on seeking legal representation. While these cases can be extremely complex, it does not mean that it is impossible to defend. A defense lawyer experienced with these types of cases can review your case details and determine a plan to fight against a criminal conviction. Sex crimes have some of the harshest penalties in Florida and can result in a lifelong registration as a sexual offender.

To avoid these harsh consequences, consider hiring a defense attorney with Pumphrey Law Firm. Call us at (850) 681-7777 to provide you with a free consultation.

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