Lawsuits filed against Sean "Diddy" Combs by Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones and others, and the subsequent federal drug trafficking probe have dragged several of Combs' associates into the spotlight.
Among them is his alleged drug mule, Brendan Paul, who was arrested shortly after the Homeland Security bicoastal raid on the rap mogul's mansions in March.
Diddy Alleged Drug Mule Enters Plea Deal
NBC Miami reports that Diddy's alleged drug mule, Paul, was formally arraigned in a Miami-Dade County courtroom on Wednesday (April 24).
State prosecutors have filed a cocaine possession charge against Paul but dropped the possession of a controlled substance charge. Paul was absent during the arraignment; his lawyer, Brian Bieber, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Paul was arrested on March 25. This was the same day that Diddy's mansions were raided in Los Angeles and Miami. Paul was charged with cocaine possession and controlled substance at the time but was eventually freed when he posted a bond of $2,500.
Bieber asked Miami Dade Circuit County Judge Ellen Sue Venzer for a jury trial on behalf of his client. Venzer then scheduled a hearing date for mid-May.
"We entered Brendan's plea of not guilty in court today," Bieber told The Miami Herald. "We will be dealing with this case in the courtroom, not the court of public opinion."
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Diddy's Alleged Drug Mule Could Snitch on Him
Meanwhile, TMZ pointed out that although Paul pleaded not guilty, prosecutors could offer him a plea deal down the road that could be used against Diddy.
Being a close associate and speculated drug mule for the embattled rapper, the feds might offer or could have already offered him a reduced charge, or even possibly drop the whole charge, in exchange for deeper cooperation with Diddy's investigation.
Jones' lawsuit named Paul as Diddy's "mule," responsible for procuring, transporting, and distributing "ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, marijuana, mushrooms, and tuci by packing these substances in their carry-on luggage and going through TSA," Fox News reported.
Diddy's lawyers denied the allegations and slammed the surprising bicoastal raid in March.
"This unprecedented ambush -- paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence - leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits," Diddy's lawyers said in a statement.
"There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name."
#Diddy's associate, Brendan Paul, has just been charged with one felony count of drug possession. Could this spell trouble for the rap mogul? We answer this on #TMZLive. pic.twitter.com/fxlfsvJOpR
— TMZ (@TMZ) April 24, 2024
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