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On September 16, 2024, Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in New York by federal agents and was charged with three felony counts: racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The news came amid the rapper and music producer’s legal woes, including a 2023 lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who claimed that he sexually assaulted her. Although he denied the claims and settled the case, Combs was placed under investigation by Homeland Security.

Diddy’s trial began in May 2025 and drew nationwide attention. After weeks of testimony, a jury acquitted him of the most serious charges—sex trafficking and racketeering—but found him guilty on two counts of Mann Act transportation to engage in prostitution. He has remained in custody at MDC Brooklyn as he awaits sentencing on October 3, 2025.

Below, learn more about Diddy’s legal troubles, the trial, and what’s next for the music mogul.

When Was Diddy’s Trial?

Diddy’s federal trial began on May 12, 2025, in New York. The government’s star witness was his ex-girlfriend Cassie, whose emotional testimony made headlines and struck a chord with both the courtroom and the public. Other witnesses included former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard, Cassie’s best friend Kerry Morgan, and Combs’ former assistant David James, each offering accounts that added weight to the prosecution’s case.

After weeks of testimony, closing arguments were delivered during the week of June 24, 2025, before the jury began deliberations.

Why Was Diddy Arrested?

Diddy was arrested on September 16, 2024, and the charges against him were revealed when he was taken into custody on September 17. According to his indictment, he and his alleged accomplices participated in “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice” all while allegedly running a “criminal enterprise.”

The music mogul is currently in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told reporters at the time of his arrest, “He came to New York to basically engage the court system and start the case, and it will start today, and he’s going to plead not guilty.” Agnifilo added, “He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers.”

Why Were Diddy’s Houses Raided?

BREAKING

Federal agents have raided the home of Sean “Diddy” Combs in Los Angeles.

TMZ is reporting they’ve also raided his home in Miami. pic.twitter.com/w6hwKiRLwe

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 25, 2024

Homeland Security did not publicly explain the reason behind its raid on Diddy’s home. However, the agency released a statement to multiple outlets about the incident.

“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 explained in a statement, per CNN. “We will provide further information as it becomes available.”

According to NBC, a source told the outlet that “three women and a man have been interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan in relation to allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.” The outlet also reported that Homeland Security and federal agents executed search warrants at Diddy’s L.A. and Miami properties. Following the raid, it was reported that law enforcement found firearms at both of the rapper’s residences.

What Did Diddy Do?

Combs previously made headlines for multiple allegations of sexual assault in late 2023. That November, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Ventura filed a lawsuit against him in the Federal District Court in New York City for alleged rape and abuse.

According to court documents from Ventura’s lawsuit, she accused Combs of “beating her” and “forcing her to have sex” with “male prostitutes” while Diddy allegedly recorded the sexual “encounters.” At the time when Ventura and Combs began dating when she was 19 and he was in his 30s. The exes had an on and off relationship for several years.

In response to the claims, Combs defended himself in an Instagram statement—which now appears to have been deleted.

“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” he wrote. “For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick pay day. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Diddy’s lawyer, Ben Brafman, also released a statement as well, denying the sexual assault allegations.

Shortly thereafter, Ventura and Combs settled the case that month. However, in December 2023, another woman came forward with accusations of sexual assault against Combs. She claimed that he raped her in 2003 when she was 17.

By early 2024, Diddy was facing five accusations of sexual assault. Among the accusers is a man who was 16 at the time of the alleged incident and a woman who was a 19-year-old college student when she alleges Combs raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2004. All of the alleged incidents occurred in New York City or the Hamptons, according to the suits. Two of the lawsuits include incidents alleged to have happened at Combs’ lavish Labor Day “White Parties” at his Hamptons property.

In April 2025, actor Terence Howard claimed that Combs tried to have sex with him in a past encounter. Howard unraveled the alleged incident during an appearance on the “PBD Podcast.”

During the opening statements of Diddy’s trial, prosecutors unveiled a startling new set of claims against him. Ventura claimed that her ex had a male escort urinate in her mouth and introduced her to his “freak offs.”

What Are Diddy’s Charges?

Prosecutors decided to drop three of the charges against Combs when closing arguments began in late June 2025. The dismissed charges, indicted in a letter to the judge, were the following: attempted kidnapping under both California and New York law, attempted arson under California law, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking, according to multiple outlets.

If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more.