Brendan Paul, the man who was arrested at a Florida airport earlier this week and accused of being Sean “Diddy” Combs' “drug mule,” is a former Syracuse University men's basketball player.
On the same day that Mr. Paul was arrested at Opa Locka Airport in Miami before boarding a private jet, federal agents searched Mr. Combs' residence in Los Angeles.
Paul was recently named in a lawsuit filed by music producer Rodney Jones, who claims the former basketball player was Combs' “mule” and was instrumental in collecting and distributing guns for the rapper. did.
In the lawsuit, Jones said he “personally witnessed” Paul transporting or attempting to transport illegal drugs on flights between Los Angeles, Miami, Virginia, the Caribbean and London. There is.
Mr. Paul has yet to comment publicly, either personally or through his attorney, about the charges or his arrest.
On the day of his arrest, Paul is said to have had contraband in his travel bag in the form of cocaine.
The 25-year-old was arrested on charges of cocaine and controlled substance possession and released Tuesday after posting $2,500 bail, according to Miami-Dade County court records. His first hearing is scheduled for April 24.
Although he is said to be working as an associate of Combs, Mr. Paul's residence information lists him as living with his parents at their home in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
Paul attended Brewster Academy, a private boarding school in New Hampshire, and Hawken High School in Ohio, before playing at Syracuse.
After two years at Syracuse, he transferred to Fairmont State University for the 2020-21 season, where he played two more years.
After his college performing career ended, he reportedly became an amateur music producer. new york post.
He produced for Combs. love albumperhaps that's how the pair met.
Mr. Paul was arrested while at the Miami airport with Mr. Combs. As the pair tried to board Combs' private plane, federal agents swooped in and took Combs, 25, into custody.
Federal agents subsequently searched Combs' home and seized computer equipment and other evidence allegedly related to an ongoing sex trafficking investigation.
Combs has denied any wrongdoing and has called the investigation a “witch hunt.” He also accused federal authorities of using “excessive force” against children and staff during the raid on his home.
“Military-level force was used in a grossly excessive manner yesterday during the execution of a search warrant at Mr. Combs' residence. There is no excuse for this,” Combs' attorney, Aaron Dyer, said in a statement.