Music

CRIME

Diddy’s 2 Miami Beach homes were raided by federal agents as part of probe: sources

March 25, 2024 07:43 PM

Federal agents on Monday raided the two Star Island homes in Miami Beach of rap mogul Sean Combs, better known as Diddy, according to federal sources.

“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,” Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement.

Diddy owns a residence at 1 West Star Island in Miami Beach, which was previously owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan. He purchased the property for $35 million in 2021. He also owns a home at 2 West Star Island in Miami Beach, according to Miami-Dade property records.

Federal agents raided both.

The raid came a month after a lawsuit alleged that Diddy was the leader of a criminal enterprise that could qualify as a “widespread and dangerous criminal sex trafficking organization.” 

In the lawsuit, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones states that Diddy, his staff and music executives knew about — and were involved in — illicit and unwanted sexual activities in Florida, New York, California and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, where Jones filed the lawsuit, are heading the sex-trafficking probe. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations in Miami are assisting. Sources say Jones is the main witness.

READ MORE: Diddy forced music producer to recruit sex workers at Miami strip club, lawsuit claims

Jones, whom Diddy hired in August 2022 to produce several songs on his R&B album “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” claims in the filing that the mogul groped him and forced him to engage in sex acts with sex workers. He also said he was ordered to recruit those sex workers from Booby Trap on the River, a strip club in Miami, and bring them back to Diddy’s Star Island home.

“Mr. Jones agreed [to work for Diddy,] and his life has been detrimentally impacted ever since,” the lawsuit says.

It’s not the only time similar allegations have come about in recent months. Diddy was accused of sexual assault in four other lawsuits filed by women. One involved singer Cassie, his ex-girlfriend, who alleged that Diddy abused her and forced her to have sex with male sex workers. Diddy settled that lawsuit the day after it was filed in November.

At around 7 p.m., Homeland Security Investigations officers were scattered across the Star Island property, walking in and out of the mansion. A van with flashing red and blue lights was backed into the driveway, about 25 feet from a large trailer.

One officer walked up the driveway with a police dog, stepping past an iron gate that appeared to be damaged. 

A neighbor who lives across the island told the Miami Herald that he has often heard parties at the mansion and seen people come and go at all times. He also said he has witnessed many cars parked along the exclusive island’s single palm-lined road for gatherings at the home. 

“It’s at all times,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “During the week, and on weekends.”