Photo Credit: Law enforcement outside the Combs residence during March 25 raid / KCAL/KCBS
Federal investigators gear up for a federal grand jury trial against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, signaling a possible indictment is forthcoming, a new report from CNN reveals.
Two sources familiar with the federal investigation into music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs have revealed to CNN that investigators are preparing to bring his accusers before a federal grand jury. The move signals that the US Justice Department may be seeking an indictment.
Bringing individuals who have filed civil lawsuits against Combs before a grand jury would significantly escalate the government’s ongoing investigation involving the Bad Boy Records founder and record producer. Possible witnesses have been notified they could be brought in to testify in front of a federal grand jury in New York City.
While these potential witnesses have not yet been prepared for testimony, which indicates that Homeland Security Investigations is still in the process of gathering its evidence. A representative for the Homeland Security Investigations agency (HSI) has declined to comment on the existence of a grand jury, but confirmed the investigation is still ongoing.
As part of the HSI investigation, Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided back in March. Investigators confirmed to CNN at the time that Combs was the target of a federal investigation by a team from the Department of Homeland Security that focuses on human trafficking crimes. Law enforcement also indicated that the investigation includes a focus on sex trafficking.
Now, CNN reveals that the scope of the investigation is even broader, with a focus on money laundering and illegal drugs, in addition to sex trafficking. HSI also investigates narcotics smuggling, as well as other organized crime activity.
“It’s much bigger than just these lawsuits,” one source close to the investigation told CNN. Combs has been named in eight civil lawsuits since November, seven of which directly accuse him of sexual assault. Only two of those lawsuits, including that filed by former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, have been settled.
According to one source, investigators are being thorough and taking their time gathering their evidence to ensure that, should an indictment be brought forth, it will be “bulletproof.”
“They are contacting people that they’ve found on the tapes,” a source told CNN, referring to video taken inside Combs’ recently searched residences. It’s currently unknown whether that video was seized during the raids, or whether it was obtained from individuals questioned during the investigation.
Combs and his legal team have vehemently denied all the accusations against him, although he quickly released an apology tape after surveillance footage of his assault on Cassie in 2016 recently surfaced.
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