Among the alleged middle men implicated in Sean “Diddy” Combs legal issues over the last year is Brendan Paul, a young Syracuse University basketball player accused of being the mogul’s “drug mule.” Paul just got some good news that might take some heat off the rapper’s pending sex crime case.
Attorney Brian Bieber tells PEOPLE the charges against Brendan Paul were dismissed Tuesday. Paul came under fire in March as the civil sex trafficking cases against Combs began bubbling up. In one example, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones claimed in his lawsuit that Paul was Combs’ “mule” who bussed drugs for the rapper as well as guns, per the court document.
Miami-Dade police and Homeland Security agents say they caught Paul with narcotics in his travel bags the same day Combs’ mansions were raided by federal agents.
Paul was then arrested for felony cocaine and marijuana possession.
Paul originally entered a plea of not guilty. However, in May, he entered a plea deal, agreeing to accept the prosecutor’s offer to permit his entry into a diversion pre-trial program. Upon its completion, his case will be dismissed entirely, Bieber told PEOPLE.
But while Paul is home free, Combs remains behind bars. It’s unclear what this will mean in the context of his alleged drug offenses related to his pending sex crime case.
Diddy’s Federal Case
On Sept. 16, the 55-year-old rap mogul was arrested in Manhattan by federal authorities, six months after they raided his two homes in Los Angeles and Miami. His indictment was unsealed the following morning, revealing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. The allegations against Combs include sexual abuse, physical abuse, bribery and various drug offenses.
These allegations were first brought forth by ex-girlfriend and Bad Boy Records signee Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a civil suit that accused him of sex trafficking, human trafficking, sexual battery, sexual assault, and other allegations. Combs quickly settled the suit within 24 hours, but lawsuits from other associates have quickly followed in the months since. Most recently, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee announced he’s representing over 100 plaintiffs who came forward with claims of rape, sexual exploitation and sexual assault against the rapper.
While many of the suits since 2023 have been civil, this federal case has Combs facing criminal charges. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail three times. His trial is scheduled for May 2025.