Diddy arrested after grand jury indictment in New York

Diddy was arrested in New York on Monday evening (September 16) after being indicted by a grand jury on unknown charges. Billboard has confirmed.

In a statement to BillboardMarc Agnifilo, attorney for Diddy (real name Sean Combs), said, “We are disappointed in the U.S. Attorney's decision to continue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs. Sean 'Diddy' Combs is a music icon, a self-made entrepreneur, a loving family man and a proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and advocating for the advancement of the black community. He is not a perfect person, but he is not a criminal. To Mr. Combs' credit, he has fully cooperated with this investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve judgment until you have all the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

According to the New York TimesThe indictment is sealed and the charges have not been disclosed, but Agnifilo told the publication he believes Diddy will face organized crime and sex trafficking charges.

Accordingly TMZCombs was taken into federal custody at the FBI's Manhattan field office on Monday.

The rap mogul has faced at least eight civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse in the past year, including the suit that started it all, from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, which was later followed by a video showing him abusing her. Before the video even surfaced, that lawsuit was privately settled in less than 24 hours. Combs is also apparently facing a federal criminal investigation after authorities raided his homes in March.

The latest lawsuit against him comes from Danity Kane's Dawn Richard, who filed suit in Manhattan federal court last week claiming Diddy “manipulated” her into believing that “abuse and exploitation were necessary for female artists to succeed in the music industry.” Richard claims she witnessed Combs abuse Ventura on multiple occasions — and the recent lawsuits from Cassie and others prompted her to speak out.

“As more women courageously step forward, the plaintiff has been emboldened by this collective strength and now adds her voice to the growing chorus of victims who are bravely sharing their harrowing stories,” Richard's lawyers wrote. “Together, they seek justice and stand in solidarity as the latest victims of the #MeToo movement in the music industry.”

In a statement on Richards' allegations on Wednesday, Combs' attorney Erica Wolff said her client was “shocked and disappointed” by the new allegations.