Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces federal charges in New York

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested and faces federal charges in New York, his lawyer has said.

Details of the charges have not yet been revealed by prosecutors.

In a statement, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said: “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr Combs by the US Attorney’s Office.”

He added that the hip-hop mogul had gone to New York last week in anticipation of the charges being brought.

“He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal,” Mr Agnifilo said.

Criminal charges would be a major takedown of one of the most prominent producers and most famous names in the history of hip-hop.

The federal investigation of the 58-year-old music star was revealed when Homeland Security Investigations agents served simultaneous search warrants and raided Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami on 25 March this year.

His defence lawyer Aaron Dyer called the raids “a gross use of military-level force,” and said the allegations were “meritless”.

At the time he said Combs was “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name.

Combs, previously known as Puff Daddy, was at the centre of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop battles of the 1990s as the partner and producer of the Notorious B.I.G., who was shot and killed in 1997.

As the founder of Bad Boy Records, he became one of the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades.

He also worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.