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Ciara O'Rourke
By Ciara O'Rourke September 18, 2024

Old Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs mug shot recirculates after recent arrest

If Your Time is short

  • These booking photos of Sean "Diddy" Combs were taken in 1999, after New York City police arrested him in connection with the possession of a firearm.

Music magnate Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, was arrested Sept. 16 at a Manhattan hotel after a grand jury indicted him on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. 

Combs pleaded not guilty.

Both local and national news outlets have covered the arrest, which came after federal agents raided Combs’ homes in March. Social media accounts have also offered their own dispatches.  

"Breaking news," a Sept. 16 Threads post said. "Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested in a Manhattan hotel! No other details given at this time!"

The post also shared booking photos of Combs. But they weren’t taken recently. 

Featured Fact-check

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

The mug shot shown was taken in December 1999, after New York City police arrested Combs in connection with bribery and illegally possessing a gun. Prosecutors said he fired a weapon in a nightclub and then tried to bribe his driver into telling police the gun was his, but he was acquitted of any criminal involvement in the shooting after a 2001 trial.

As of Sept. 17, no news outlets had yet published a booking photo of Combs following his Sept. 16 arrest, although The Associated Press shared court sketches from his Sept. 17 court appearance and images of Combs’ son leaving a Manhattan federal courthouse.

We rate claims these photos were taken after Combs’ Sept. 16 arrest False.

 

Our Sources

Threads post, Sept. 16, 2024

The Associated Press, IN PHOTOS: Combs’ sons leave the courthouse, Sept. 17, 2024

The Associated Press, See the court sketches from Combs’ plea hearing, Sept. 17, 2024

Getty Images, P. Diddy Mugshot, Dec. 1, 1999

New York Post, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrest live updates: Combs is a ‘fighter’ who is ‘innocent,’ lawyer says while vowing to appeal no-bail order, Sept. 17, 2024

The New York Times, Sean Combs Arrested in Manhattan After Grand Jury Indictment, Sept. 17, 2024

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sean Combs Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Sex Trafficking And Other Federal Offenses, Sept. 17, 2024

The Washington Post, Jury Acquits Rap's Sean 'Puffy' Combs, March 16, 2001

 

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Old Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs mug shot recirculates after recent arrest

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