A mansion in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles associated with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was raided by U.S. agents with the Department of Homeland Security on Monday.
Footage of the raid captured by Sky5 showed several SWAT vehicles as well as agents in bulletproof vests moving in and out of the home in the 200 block of South Mapleton Drive. Federal agents were also seen questioning several people, who appeared to be at least temporarily detained just outside the home.
According to reporting by the tabloid outlet TMZ, the rapper’s L.A. and Miami homes were both raided this afternoon, and while there are reports that these are tied to sex-trafficking allegations aimed at Combs, federal law enforcement officials have not confirmed that.
When asked for comment, officials at Homeland Security Investigations 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 further information as it becomes available.”
Along with agents from HSI New York, there were also agents from the department’s L.A. and Miami offices, as well local law enforcement at the scene.
An attorney for singer Cassie Ventura, who has accused Combs of rape, physical abuse and forcing her to engage in sex acts with other men before reaching a settlement a day after she filed her lawsuit, provided KTLA with the following statement regarding the raids:
“We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law,” Attorney Douglas Wigdor said. “Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible 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’s also been accused of nonconsensual pornography. The officers would’ve executed that search warrant to gather any type of evidence to prove or establish that a crime has been committed and he is the person that committed the crime,” she explained.
Triessl added that the execution of the search warrant was no doubt a very well-organized plan and that it is standard procedure to detain everyone inside the house until the search is complete.
A neighbor of the Holmby Hills mansion, Ryan Mendelsohn, told KTLA that he would regularly see black SUVs, Uber drivers and other cars outside the home late at night, but that he never really thought much about it.
“Obviously this came out and now it’s like, wow, that’s crazy. I didn’t know that,” he said. “I’ve seen a party twice a month at least. I’ve seen girls get out of limos, maybe four or five, some standing outside of the house in the driveway, some going inside the house. I’ve never seen them leaving because I was never outside of his house for longer than a 15 or 20-minute span.”
Records showed that the home 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 spotted in Miami shortly after the raids executed, though it is unknown where the rapper is now and if he has spoken to law enforcement.
KTLA has reached out to Diddy’s representatives and is awaiting comment.