A former Syracuse basketball player who was allegedly employed as a drug mule for Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested at a Miami airport, on Monday, while federal agents raided the hip-hop mogul's home.
Brendan Paul, 25, was charged with multiple felonies including possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors allege that Paul was responsible for procuring and distributing both drugs and firearms for Combs.
Paul was reportedly attempting to board a plane at Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport when he was arrested by Miami-Dade Police, who were accompanied by Homeland Security agents.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet disclosed why they simultaneously raided Combs' Miami and Los Angeles mansions. It is unknown whether he is the target of the investigation or what crimes the agency is looking into.
Combs, 54, is an icon of hip hop, with a net worth that reached an estimated $1 billion by 2022. He has long been subject to controversy and in recent months the mogul has been sued by multiple individuals alleging sexual misconduct and sex trafficking.
Comb's ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, alleged that he raped her and forced her to have sex with male prostitutes. After Cassie began a romantic relationship with the rapper Kid Cudi, he threatened to car bomb her new partner. Shortly after Combs made the threat, Kid Cudi's car allegedly exploded in his driveway.
Combs and Cassie settled the lawsuit the day after it was filed. Combs subsequently said, "I did not do any of the awful things being alleged."
Who Is Rodney Jones?
Among those who filed lawsuits against Combs was Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones. In addition to alleging that Combs sexually harassed him, Jones also claimed that Paul served as the mogul's drug mule.
Jones claimed that he "personally witnessed" Paul acquiring and distributing drugs and firearms to both Combs and his entourage across multiple countries.
"Members of the enterprise and their associates procured, transported and distributed ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, marijuana, mushrooms, by packing these substances in their carry-on luggage and going through TSA," he wrote.
"Mr. Jones personally witnessed Mr. Combs distribute firearms out of his bedroom closet to individuals that Mr. Jones knew to be members of local gangs," the lawsuit continued.
Paul was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and held on two $2,500 bonds.
