Crime & Arrests

Diddy is once again trying to get himself released on bond, 2 weeks after he was arrested ... and we're told he's building a powerhouse legal team to try to make it a reality.

New court documents show the rap mogul's lawyer filed to appeal the most recent order denying him bond ... the appeal will be his 3rd formal attempt to secure his release from behind bars as he awaits trial.

Sources close to Diddy tell TMZ ... the rapper has added 2 more attorneys -- Anthony Ricco and Alexandra Shapiro -- to the legal team working on his highly publicized criminal case. (For those wondering, Alexandra is not related to famed defense attorney Robert Shapiro).

Akon may sing about being "Locked Up," but the singer has no feedback for Diddy as he sits in jail ... telling us the justice system will work the situation out.

We caught up with the recording artist at LAX, where Akon avoided commenting on whether Diddy has been targeted for his success as a Black man ... a defense his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has made since the rap mogul's arrest.

Akon hinted the idea was all a "defense mechanism" -- but emphasized it wasn't his place to comment.

Damon Dash says there's a lot of things about Diddy that he didn't know, even though they go way back ... and a lot of what he's finding out now is unsettling.

The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder was in New York on Monday when photogs asked him about Diddy's arrest, indictment, jailing and the mounting lawsuits.

Damon says a lot of the allegations facing Diddy are disturbing ... especially given the fact they've known each other for a long time.

8:46 AM PT -- Lil Reese's attorney Carl Moore tells TMZ … "Mr. Taylor vehemently denies these false accusations. We look forward to his day in court."

Lil Reese is in police custody nearly 2 weeks after an arrest warrant was issued over allegations he punched and strangled a former girlfriend … TMZ has learned.

According to arrest records ... the rapper was booked for aggravated assault of a family or household member in the early hours of Monday morning and was subsequently denied bond.

An eyewitness tells TMZ … the Chicago drill rapper swung by The Address nightclub in Houston, Texas Sunday evening, where LR had a run-in with authorities. We’re told officers were already at the club … though, it’s unclear why they were stationed at the hotspot.

While Diddy's still behind bars at a notorious NYC jail, photos from his old parties are receiving renewed interest ... including the ones celebrating another turn around the sun for the mogul.

Check out these pics of Diddy's birthday parties throughout the years ... the embattled music producer is front and center in all of them, cutting cakes and hanging with some huge stars.

Snaps from Diddy's 35th birthday show the star hanging out with Jay-Z and Jamie Foxx ... Puff grinning wide for the camera. Paris Hilton was at the same party, chatting with the Bad Boy Records founder.

Diddy could remain behind bars for a year or maybe more as he awaits trial, but that's not breaking his spirit ... it's quite the opposite, at least according to his lawyer.

Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, appears in a new TMZ Studios documentary -- "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment" -- which has just dropped on Tubi ... and we asked him about his client's state of mind in jail.

Agnifilo says Diddy's remaining remarkably positive and isn't letting the indictment weaken his resolve. Instead, Agnifilo says Diddy is so focused on his defense, it's actually giving him a form of strength and confidence that will help him deal with being behind bars for an extended period.

Diddy will fight his legal case to the bitter end ... because his lawyer says a plea deal won't fly with his client.

Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, appears in TMZ Studios' new documentary -- "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment" -- available to stream now on Tubi ... and, he says his client will fight this case not just for himself, but for others in a similar position.

Agnifilo says Diddy says he's innocent ... so, he sees no reason to take a plea deal -- even if prosecutors offer it.

Diddy's grand jury is still looking into the allegations against him ... hearing from at least one more sex worker about their alleged relationship with the mogul, and it's possible it could lead to new charges.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the grand jury is absolutely still convened, and this week it heard testimony from a male escort who said he's interacted with Diddy in the past.

We're told the testimony covered Diddy's alleged outreach to the escort and his willingness to participate in a "Freak Off."

A monster truck driver proved size really does matter ... at least when it comes to crushing cars -- 'cause new a video going viral online shows him dispersing a crowd with his vehicle and running over a couple cars on the way out.

The wild scene went down at Rednecks With Paychecks ... an adults-only festival held in North Texas over the weekend. From their online promo, it's a weekend full of big trucks, country music and nearly naked women.

However, it took a dark turn last Saturday when a man in a giant truck got into an argument with a crowd of people ... who appeared to throw objects at him.

Diddy is facing a new lawsuit filed by a woman who claims the rap mogul drugged and sexually assaulted her ... and continues to menace and intimidate her.

In new documents filed Friday, and obtained by TMZ, a Jane Doe claims the Bad Boy Records founder repeatedly assaulted her over a 4-year period, and says one of the encounters even resulted in her getting pregnant -- but she ended up suffering a miscarriage.

The anonymous woman, represented by attorney Joseph L. Ciaccio, claims she first met Diddy overseas in the fall of 2020 and was invited to join the rapper on an all-expenses paid trip.

A Houston-based law firm is representing more than 50 alleged victims who say they've faced sexual assault and abuse from Diddy and his associates -- and they’re predicting the group will keep growing as the case progresses.

Attorney Tony Buzbee made some serious allegations on his firm’s IG ... saying the group of men and women who came forward have "gut-wrenching" stories about what went down at Diddy’s alleged "Freak Off" parties.

He detailed the alleged "mindboggling" violations against them as "debauchery and depravity, exacted by powerful people."

Buzbee claims some of the accusers were minors when the alleged incidents occurred ... and mentioned plans for a press conference where individuals can share their stories.

While he has not yet filed, Buzbee says he intends to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of all the victims early next week.

Diddy's case is yet another example of the federal government's hostility toward successful Black men ... at least according to his lawyer, who tells us race is a major factor here.

Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, appears in a new TMZ Studios documentary -- "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment" -- which has just dropped on Tubi ... and he says the feds are targeting Diddy because of the color of his skin.

Agnifilo says the feds are just looking to take down Diddy because he's a successful Black man ... and when they couldn't nail him for anything related to taxes or his business empire, they started poking around in his bedroom.

Diddy is planning to take the witness stand, Hoda Kotb is saying goodbye and Shohei Ohtani's record home run ball is going to auction ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles explain why Diddy is chomping at the bit to testify in his criminal case.

Memphis jurors took several hours to reach a verdict Thursday, ultimately delivering a guilty verdict to Justin Johnson ... one of the men prosecutors claim murdered Young Dolph back in 2021.

The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts to the charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm -- and Judge Jennifer Mitchell immediately threw the book at him with a life sentence!!!

Closing arguments were delivered Wednesday. Johnson never took the stand but Cornelius Smith testified during the trial Yo Gotti's slain brother Big Jook and suspect Hernandez Govan orchestrated for them to kill any Paper Route Empire rappers they could find.

One of Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged encounters with a sex worker was videotaped, and that tape is now in the hands of federal prosecutors ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the male sex worker met with the feds Wednesday in NYC and signed a proffer agreement, which allows him to speak to federal investigators without fear of prosecution.

We're told the conversation revolved around Diddy ... with the man explaining how he got in touch with an escort to engage in a "freak off" involving himself, Diddy and a woman.

Diddy's not afraid of other inmates giving him a poisoned apple in prison ... 'cause TMZ has learned he's not as paranoid about what's going into his food as some have suggested.

Here's the deal ... multiple outlets have reported Diddy's stopped eating behind bars because he's paranoid about someone poisoning his food at New York's notorious MDC Brooklyn.

However, a source close to Diddy says this is total BS ... he's eating normal jailhouse food like any other inmate -- the music mogul receives no special treatment.