A mansion in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles associated with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was raided Monday by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents.
Footage of the raid captured by Sky5 showed several SWAT vehicles as well as officers in bulletproof vests entering and exiting the home in the 200 block of South Mapleton Drive. Federal agents were also seen questioning several people, who appeared to be detained at least temporarily right outside the home.
According to a tabloid report TMZThe rapper's homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided this afternoon, and while there are reports that they are related to sex trafficking allegations leveled at Combs, federal law enforcement officials have not confirmed this.
When asked for comment, Homeland Security Investigations officials provided KTLA with the following statement:
“Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
Along with agents from HSI New York, there were also agents from the department's offices in Los Angeles and Miami, as well as local law enforcement officers on site.
An attorney for singer Cassie Ventura, who accused Combs of rape, physical abuse and forcing her to engage in sexual acts with other men before settling a day after filing her lawsuit, provided KTLA with the following statement about the raids:
“We will always support authorities as they seek to prosecute those who have violated the law,” said attorney Douglas Wigdor. “Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs accountable for his depraved conduct.”
KTLA Legal Analyst Alison Triessl believes it's clear that federal agents are looking for evidence of crimes.
“For example, P. Diddy has been accused of sex trafficking. He has also been charged with non-consensual pornography. The officers would have executed that search warrant to collect any type of evidence that would prove or establish that a crime has been committed and he is the person who committed the crime,” he explained.
Triessl added that the execution of the search warrant was certainly a very well-organized plan and that it is standard procedure to detain everyone inside the home until the search is complete.
A neighbor of the Holmby Hills mansion, Ryan Mendelsohn, told KTLA that he regularly saw black SUVs, Uber drivers and other cars outside the house late at night, but never thought much about it.
“Obviously this came out and now it's like, wow, that's crazy. I didn’t know,” she said. “I've seen a party at least twice a month. I've seen girls get out of limos, maybe four or five, some standing outside the house in the driveway, others entering the house. “I never saw them leave because I was never outside their house for more than 15 or 20 minutes.”
Records showed the house is not owned by Combs but is associated with his production company. A Mercedes-Benz G-Class, often referred to as a “G-Wagon,” located on the property was registered to Bad Boy Productions Inc.
Combs was reportedly seen in Miami shortly after the raids were carried out, although it is unknown where the rapper is now and if he has spoken to police.
KTLA has reached out to Diddy's representatives and is awaiting comment.
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