R. Kelly prosecutor says Diddy should be 'very concerned' by Homeland Security raids and arrest of drug mule

The prosecutor who secured R Kelly's sex trafficking conviction has warned Diddy should be 'very concerned' about the Homeland Security raids on his properties.

Nadia Shihata said the searches are a sign an investigation is 'well underway' with federal agents confident they would find evidence of a crime or 'multiple crimes'.

Shihata told NewsNation's Ashleigh Banfield the raids which came before the arrest of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' suspected drugs mule Brendon Paul, were 'big news'.

'Obviously, taking an overt step and investigation of searching two homes means the investigation is well underway here,' she said. 

'They've clearly have probable cause to believe a federal crime has been committed and that evidence of that crime or multiple crimes would be found in the two locations that they searched.

Nadia Shihata (right) who secured R Kelly 's sex trafficking conviction has warned Diddy should be 'very concerned' about the Homeland Security raids on his properties

Agents descended on his properties in Miami and Los Angeles as part of their investigation into alleged sex trafficking

Brendan Paul, 25, was arrested by Miami-Dade Police, alongside Homeland Security agents, at Opa-Locka Airport in Miami about 4.30pm on Monday

'So, this is this is big news. And if I'm P Diddy, or his lawyers, I'd be very concerned at this point.'

Shihata was instrumental in putting disgraced rapper R Kelly behind bars for 30 years for eight counts of sex trafficking in 2022.

Banfield told viewers that federal agents are now modelling their case against Combs on Shihata's prosecution of R Kelly.

Combs has faced a number of civil lawsuits in recent years alleging sexual assault and other illicit activity.

He has denied any allegations of sexual misconduct and has not been criminally charged.

Shihata warned that witnesses connected to the federal investigation could be wary about speaking to federal agents if they have signed confidentiality agreements.

'An NDA, that when push comes to shove, is not going to trump a grand jury subpoena or a federal agent or prosecutor asking you questions, but I wouldn't say that they are, that they have no effect. 

'NDAs can make people very reluctant and hesitant to speak to law enforcement. So, if it's someone that law enforcement is not already aware of, they may be wary to, you know, themselves contact law enforcement to provide information. And, so they can still deter people in that sense.'

Shihata warned the raids are 'big news' and should cause Diddy's lawyers concern

The rapper had electronics seized as part of the raids on his luxury homes on Monday

Her comments come just days after Homeland Security agents swooped on Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami in connection to a sex trafficking probe.

The residences were overturned with electronics seized and two of the rapper's son detained while the warrant was executed as is custom.

Combs claims he is the victim of a 'witch hunt' and bemoaned the 'military-level force' used against him as he finally spoke out following the Monday double raid on his estates.

Aaron Dyer, an attorney for the rapper, broke Combs' silence just over 24 hours after the Homeland Security investigation with a statement to DailyMail.com.

'Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences. 

'There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated,' Dyer said.

Combs was seen talking to police outside of his private jet on Monday as they arrested the man accused of being the rapper's drug mule.

Brendan Paul, 25, was arrested by Miami-Dade Police, alongside Homeland Security agents, at Opa-Locka Airport in Miami about 4:30 p.m. on Monday while authorities raided Diddy's mansions.

The federal agents are basing their case on the one brought by Shihata (second from right) against disgraced rapper R Kelly. Pictured: Shihata and her team leaving the trial in 2021

A court sketch of Shihata presenting her rebuttal during closing arguments of R Kelly's sex abuse trial in Brooklyn Federal District Court in 2021

R Kelly was jailed for 30 years for eight counts of sex trafficking in 2022 thanks to Shihata's work

He was named as Combs' 'drugs mule' in a $30 million lawsuit producer Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones filed against Diddy.

It is not known exactly what precipitated the raids, but Combs has been embroiled in a number of lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse including the one brought by Jones.

Last year he settled a case with the first of his accusers to come forward, his ex-girlfriend the singer Cassie Ventura.

Ventura sued Combs over allegations of repeated physical abuse and rape, with the two settling out of court for $30 million.