An examination of the government probe into Sean "Diddy" Combs.
A man who went from being an intern at a record label to creating his own music empire in Bad Boy Records was once revered for his power to start music careers, fashion lines, and even a political movement.
Nowadays, however, it seems like those days are long gone.
Former singer and model DMIH Ventura recently filed a lawsuit against Combs in November, alleging that he raped her in 2018 and abused her throughout their relationship. In the past six months, there have been seven other lawsuits against Combs, accusing him of sexual misconduct and illegal activities. While Combs has rejected claims from some of the civil cases, he has not provided a response for all the allegations.
In 2016, Ventura alleged that Combs physically abused her, which CNN described as "extremely disturbing." The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office decided not to prosecute because the incident was beyond the statute of limitations. However, it could serve as evidence in a potential federal investigation regarding Combs and sex trafficking. According to two sources familiar with the case, the US Justice Department could be heading towards attempting to indict Combs. The investigation is also widening into possible allegations of money laundering and illegal drugs.
"It's much bigger than just these lawsuits," one source familiar with the scope of the case shared with CNN.
Here's a more detailed account of the federal case:
The Searches
Combs' homes in Miami and Los Angeles were searched by the federal investigative agency Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on March 25th. The search warrants targeted him as part of an ongoing federal probe. The case is linked to the sexual assault allegations made in the civil lawsuits against him, according to a second law enforcement source familiar with the searches.
HSI is responsible for probing transnational crime and dangers such as human trafficking, terrorism, narcotics smuggling, and other criminal activities. Since HSI did not comment on the existence of a grand jury, it's safe to assume their investigation is ongoing.
Aaron Dyer, Combs' attorney, criticized how the searches were conducted and expressed his disapproval in a statement provided to CNN.
"There was a gross overuse of military-level force during the execution of search warrants at Mr. Combs' residences. There is no justification for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated," Dyer said.
His sons, Justin and Christian, were held and handcuffed during the execution of the warrants at his LA home. Neither of them were arrested or charged.
Misa Hylton, who is Justin's mother and not Christian's biological mother, was also dissatisfied with how her sons were treated. She defended her sons on social media in April.
"The overzealous and overtly militarized force used against both Justin and Christian is deplorable. If these were the sons of a non-Black celebrity, they would not have been treated with the same level of aggression. The attempt to humiliate and terrorize these innocent young BLACK MEN is disgusting!" she wrote on social media.
Combs has twin daughters, D'Lila and Jessie, with Kim Porter, who passed away in 2018.
Potential Evidence
The MTV Video Music Awards ceremony was held weeks before the case once sparked by a lawsuit filed by Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, a former producer and videographer for the music mogul. In his lawsuit, Jones accuses Combs and others of racketeering, sexual assault, and sex trafficking in 2022 and 2023, during which Jones helped work on Combs’ recent album titled "Love." In addition to these allegations, Jones claims Combs didn't compensate him for his music producing role.
However, Combs' attorney insists that Ventura's decision to settle a lawsuit is not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
"A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing," Ben Brafman, an attorney for Combs, said after Ventura's lawsuit was settled.
Another lawyer for Combs has denied Jones' allegations and called his claims "lies."
"His reckless name-dropping about events that are sheer fabrications and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to grab headlines. We have convincing evidence that his claims are mere fabrications," attorney Shawn Holley told CNN at the time the lawsuit was filed.
When authorities are conducting searches, they are typically looking for hard evidence that a crime has been committed. Common items that are seized include computers, cell phones, and legal documents. Jones and Ventura claim that video evidence exists of some of the alleged offenses.
Reports have surfaced stating that federal agents now have video taken inside of Combs' recently searched residences. It is unclear how investigators acquired the video footage; it may have been discovered during the searches or collected from individuals they have been questioning.
"They are reaching out to people that they've found on the tapes," a source told CNN.
At least one male sex worker, who claims to have been wronged by Combs, has been questioned during the inquiry, a source has revealed. The source also mentioned that this person was present in a video held by federal investigators.
Developing a "bulletproof" case against Combs
Although no federal criminal charges have been leveled against Combs, officials suggested that the US Department of Justice's successful prosecution of disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly in 2022 might provide an example for the ongoing sex trafficking investigation.
In the Kelly case, federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) garnered a conviction on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges due to his attempts, spanning years, to exploit his fame to coerce victims whom he sexually abused.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is a statute focused on criminal enterprises and carries severe penalties. This statute can also be beneficial for prosecutors seeking to persuade possible accomplices to testify or encourage persons charged to accept plea deals.
There is no known timeframe for potential federal charges against Combs, but treating the sex trafficking probe as a means to unearth criminal enterprises involving others would necessitate more rigorous efforts on the part of federal agents to establish a conspiracy.
According to Elie Honig, a senior legal analyst for CNN and a former federal prosecutor, "When prosecutors charge RICO, they need to demonstrate more to solidify their case — that a criminal organization exists, that the defendant was a part of it, and that the crimes are connected to that enterprise." However, it also arms prosecutors with a potent weapon to shut down large criminal enterprises.
A source confirmed that the investigators are being meticulous and cautious in order to guarantee that, if there is an indictment, it is airtight.
CNN's Sandra Gonzalez, John Miller, Elizabeth Wolfe, Eric Levenson, Denise Royal, Holmes Lybrand, and Carlos Suarez contributed to this report.
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The federal investigation into Sean "Diddy" Combs has been expanding beyond sexual misconduct allegations, with potential charges of money laundering and illegal drug use under consideration. Amidst this, entertainment news outlets continue to cover his legal struggles, keeping the public engaged and informed about developments in the case.
The ongoing federal probe into Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged crimes has not stopped the entertainment industry from keeping his legal struggles in the spotlight, with media outlets providing updates on the case and its potential impact on his career in the entertainment world.
