By Talal Ansari
Agents with the Department of Homeland Security raided a house in Los Angeles connected to rapper and entrepreneur Sean Combs Monday, according to a law-enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation.
A federal official with knowledge of the investigation said it was related to possible human trafficking.
Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative arm of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement. HSI agents investigate a host of federal crimes, including child exploitation, drug and human smuggling, money laundering, transnational criminal organizations and illegal exports of controlled technology and weapons.
"Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations 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, " a Homeland Security spokesperson said in response to an inquiry about raids on Combs's residences.
A representative for Combs didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
In November, Combs was sued by his former girlfriend, the singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura in a complaint that accused him of physical and mental abuse spanning roughly a decade. The two settled the following day.
But more suits accusing Combs of sexual abuse followed.
In one of the suits, Joi Dickerson-Neal alleges Combs drugged, sexually assaulted and abused her after a date in New York City in January 1991. She also claims Combs drugged her before videotaping himself sexually assaulting her.
In the second suit, an unnamed claimant alleges Combs and a friend forced her into having sex after a party. It also claims Combs later visited the claimant's home and physically assaulted her, choking her until she passed out.
In December, Combs released a statement on social-media platform X, titled, "Enough Is Enough."
"Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday," Combs said. "Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged," the statement continued.
In February, Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones Jr., a music producer who worked on a recent album with Combs, filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment, among other things. "Mr. Jones has secured HUNDREDS of hours of footage and audio recordings of Mr. Combs, his staff, and his guests engaging in serious illegal activity," the lawsuit said.
Dan Frosch and Alicia A. Caldwell contributed to this article.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 25, 2024 19:11 ET (23:11 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments