Fox News Senior National Correspondent William La Jeunesse details the latest accusations against rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ The Miami home in South Florida’s exclusive Star Island area was one of the targets raided Monday as part of an ongoing Homeland Security investigation.
Known for its prestigious real estate spread across 86 acres of land, the gated community is a haven for celebrities seeking extreme privacy and is only accessible by boat or a single bridge that connects the island to MacArthur Causeway .
The elite island was also the place where HSI managers descended earlier this week as part of their bicoastal raids on Diddy’s homes. A US official confirmed to Fox News that the searches at his home were linked to a federal investigation into human trafficking. It is unclear whether the rapper is the target of federal agents’ investigation.
“Star Island lives up to its name,” said real estate agent Ivan Chorney of The Ivan and Mike team at Compass, told FOX Business. “It’s made up of the most beautiful homes and the surrounding area is manicured to perfection. It’s not only exclusive but filled with mega-mansions all on the water with incredible private docks.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Star Island mansion was raided Monday by Homeland Security officials. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
“This private gated community has private security, is accessible via a bridge, and is close to downtown where all the best restaurants are. It is also minutes from the airport, which is ideal for these Fortune 500, Celebrity Owners and Moguls.
“If you want to be close to the action while still enjoying privacy and exclusivity, there’s nothing better than Star Island,” he noted. “From a real estate standpoint, it’s very rare for one of these homes to come on the market; they always trade off-market. That just adds to the appeal of Star Island.”
Diddy has been a long-time resident of the man-made island near the heart of Miami. The Bad Boy Records founder first moved to the neighborhood in 2003 when he purchased Tommy Mottola’s sprawling nine-bedroom, 12-bathroom estate for $14.5 million.
“Star Island lives up to its name. It has the most beautiful houses and its surroundings are maintained to perfection.”
Nearly 20 years later, he paid $35 million to buy the house next door, 1 Star Island, previously owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The 1.3-acre property is home to an 8,000-square-foot mansion with six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, in addition to a pristine outdoor oasis.
RAPPER SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS’ HOUSES TARGETED BY HOMELAND SECURITY
Diddy was known for hosting hundreds of people at an annual New Year’s Eve party on the island, which also attracted his famous friends, including DJ Khaled, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Future, Scottie Pippen, Jermaine Dupri and more. others.
He led the welcoming committee in July when Rick Ross moved in across the street and purchased a $37 million mansion, a rare occurrence on the island in 2017. South Floridawhich has less than 40 housing units.
He spent $35 million to buy the house next door to his first Miami mansion, 1 Star Island, which was previously owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan. (David Lefranc/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Diddy’s lavish parties included hundreds of guests at his Star Island home. (Alexandre Tamargo/Getty Images for CIROC / Getty Images)
“It’s your housewarming present,” Diddy said as he gave Ross his own golf cart. “You’re not moving in because you’ve just been approved by the community board. … It’s an intimate space. It’s really private. He doesn’t let anyone in here. It’s Star Island . But here, this is my housewarming gift. because around Star Island, you can walk around Star Island, but it’s better to drive.”
“I’m not playing with you, Rozay. No fucking parties. No pool parties. I’m the head of the (committee), I don’t do any of that. You hear me. “Rozay, We don’t do any of that.”
SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS DECLAIMS INNOCENCE AFTER FEDERAL AGENTS RAID HIS HOUSES
Diddy was known for throwing parties at his Star Island mansion. (Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Deleon Tequila/Getty Images)
Lourdes Alatriste of Douglas Elliman told FOX Business: “Star Island has always lived up to its name and been something of a ‘playground’ for celebrities. Don Johnson lived there during the “Miami Vice” era, Vanilla Ice lived there. Lisa and Donald Pliner lived at 29 Star Island. They sold to Trudy and Paul Cejas.
“He was the United States Ambassador to Belgium, appointed by President Clinton. Rosie O’Donnell lived at 43 Star; she sold it to David and Linda Frankel. Shaquille O’Neal lived at 26 Star Island when he played for the Miami Heat. His property consisted of two lots totaling 106,888 square feet. He sold it in 2009 to Naomi Campbell’s billionaire boyfriend, Vladislav Doronin, for $16 million.
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Alatriste added: “In 2020, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez purchased 14 Star Islands for $24 million from Ken Griffin. They then sold it to Griffin, who also owns 13 Star.”
Santiago Arana of The Agency told FOX Business: “I think Star Island is a perfect place for someone who obviously has the money to choose where to be and wants to be in an exclusive pocket in the middle of all the action .”
A neighbor who lives across the street from the island told the Miami Herald on Monday that parties were “frequent” at Diddy’s mansion, with people “coming and going at all hours, their cars parked along the single lined road of palm trees of the exclusive island”.
“Star Island has always lived up to its name and has always been a ‘playground’ for celebrities.”
The next morning, the outlet reported that a white Range Rover with a real estate company sign was parked in front of the house, a possible indicator that Diddy might sell the mansion raided for nearly eight hours by HSI authorities.
HSI officials stand outside Sean Combs’ Star Island home during Monday’s raid. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
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Diddy denied the “unfounded accusations” against him as he spoke for the first time Tuesday after the searches.
“Yesterday, there was an excessive use of military force when search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ home,” his attorney, Aaron Dyer, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
“There is no excuse for the excessive display of force and hostility shown by authorities or for the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never arrested but spoke and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any other of his family members have been arrested and their ability to travel has not been restricted in any way.
“This unprecedented ambush – coupled with an advanced and coordinated media presence – is leading to a premature rush to judgment against Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on baseless accusations made in the framework of civil proceedings”, he added. “None of these allegations have resulted in criminal or civil charges. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every day to clear his name.”
