The prosecutor who secured R Kelly’s sex trafficking conviction has warned Diddy that he should be “very concerned” about Homeland Security raids on his property.
Nadia Shihata said the searches are a sign that an investigation is “well underway,” with federal agents confident they will find evidence of a crime or “multiple crimes.”
Shihata told NewsNationAccording to Ashley Banfield, the raids that preceded the arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ suspected drug mule Brendon Paul were “big news.”
“It’s clear that taking an overt step and investigating two houses means the investigation here is well underway,” she said.
“They clearly have probable cause to believe that a federal crime has been committed and that evidence of that crime or multiple crimes would be found at the two locations they searched.
Nadia Shihata (right), who secured R Kelly’s sex trafficking conviction, has warned Diddy to be ‘very concerned’ about Homeland Security raids on his property
Agents responded to his properties in Miami and Los Angeles as part of their investigation into alleged sex trafficking
Brendan Paul, 25, was arrested by Miami-Dade police, along with Homeland Security officers, at Miami’s Opa-Locka Airport on Monday around 4:30 p.m.
‘So this is big news. And if I’m P Diddy, or his lawyers, I would be very concerned right now.”
Shihata was instrumental in putting disgraced rapper R Kelly behind bars for 30 years on eight sex trafficking charges in 2022.
Banfield told viewers that federal agents are now basing their case against Combs on Shihata’s prosecution of R Kelly.
Combs has faced a number of civil lawsuits in recent years for sexual assault and other illegal activities.
He has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and has not faced criminal charges.
Shihata warned that witnesses involved in the federal investigation could be wary of talking to federal agents if they have signed a confidentiality agreement.
“An NDA, when push comes to shove, is not going to trump a grand jury subpoena or a federal agent or prosecutor asking you questions, but I wouldn’t say that they do, that they have no effect.
‘NDAs can make people very reluctant and reluctant to talk to the police. So if it is someone that law enforcement is not yet aware of, they may be wary of contacting law enforcement themselves to provide information. And so in that sense they can still deter people.’
Shihata warned that the raids are “big news” and that Diddy’s lawyers should be concerned
The rapper’s electronics were seized during raids on his luxury homes on Monday
Her comments come just days after Homeland Security agents raided Diddy’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami in connection with a sex trafficking investigation.
The homes were destroyed, electronics were seized and two of the rapper’s sons were arrested while the warrant was executed as usual.
Combs claims he is the victim of a “witch hunt” and complained about the “military-level violence” used against him when he finally spoke out following the double attack on his estates on Monday.
Aaron Dyer, an attorney for the rapper, broke Combs’ silence just over 24 hours after the Homeland Security investigation with a statement to DailyMail.com.
“Yesterday there was a gross, military-level use of force when search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residence.
“There is no excuse for the authorities’ excessive show of force and hostility or for the way his children and employees were treated,” Dyer said.
Combs was seen talking to police outside his private jet on Monday as they arrested the man accused of being the rapper’s drug mule.
Brendan Paul, 25, was arrested by Miami-Dade police, along with Homeland Security agents, at Miami’s Opa-Locka Airport on Monday around 4:30 p.m., as authorities raided Diddy’s mansion.
The federal agents are basing their case on the case filed by Shihata (second from right) against disgraced rapper R Kelly. In the photo: Shihata and her team leave the trial in 2021
A court sketch of Shihata presenting her rebuttal during the closing arguments of R Kelly’s sexual abuse trial in Brooklyn Federal District Court in 2021
R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2022 on eight counts of sex trafficking thanks to Shihata’s work
He was named as Combs’ “drug mule” in a $30 million lawsuit brought against Diddy by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones.
It is not known exactly what prompted the raids, but Combs is involved in a number of lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse, including that of Jones.
Last year he settled a case with the first of his accusers to come forward, his ex-girlfriend, the singer Cassie Ventura.
Ventura sued Combs over allegations of repeated physical abuse and rape, with the two settling for $30 million.