Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in Manhattan by federal agents on Monday evening based on a sealed indictment, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York said.
“We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time,” the US Attorney in Manhattan, Damian Williams, said in a statement.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, issued a statement saying: “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr Combs by the US Attorney’s Office.”
Mr Agnifilo said that Combs voluntarily relocated to New York in anticipation of the charges.
Combs, 54, has faced several allegations of sexual assault.
Last week, singer Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of sexual assault, battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination and fraud in the Southern District of New York. Combs denies the allegations.
In the same month, Combs was ordered to pay $100 million in a different sexual assault lawsuit to Derrick Lee Smith, who accused Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a party almost 30 years ago. An attorney for Combs said the rapper would move to have the judgment dismissed.
R&B vocalist Casandra Ventura sued Combs in 2023 accusing him of serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape during a 10-year professional and romantic relationship. She agreed to an undisclosed settlement in November 2023, and Combs strongly denied the allegations.
Combs is one of the most influential producers and executives in hip-hop and was a hugely successful performer.