Diddy Songs Spike on Streaming Services | Crime Alert 5PM 07.09.25

Sean "Diddy" Combs scores a partial win in a civil lawsuit filed by April Lampros, a woman who says Combs sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. A New York judge tossed claims tied to incidents before December 2000, when the Gender-Motivated Violence Act took effect. But one claim under that law still stands. Diddy's streaming numbers jumped 20% during trial testimony. Comparisons to Jeffrey Epstein are growing. Drew Nelson reports.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alert hourly update, breaking crime news Now. I'm Drew Nelson.
As Sean Ditty, Combs await sentencing for prostitution. The fifty
five year old posts at least one w His legal
team scored a partial win in a civil lawsuit filed
by April Lampros, a woman who says Combs sexually assaulted
her in the nineties. A New York judge tossed claims

(00:22):
tied to incidents before December two thousand, when the Gender
Motivated Violence Act took effect, but now one claim still
stands under that law. Combs has been accused in more
than seventy civil lawsuits, some cases dating back over two decades.
He denies all wrongdoing. Last year, he paid twenty million
dollars to settle with ex girlfriend Cassie Ventura. According to CNN,

(00:45):
the guilty verdict has not sunk Ditty's music. His streaming
numbers jumped twenty percent during trial testimony, but his business
empire has unraveled. His Shawn John clothing line vanished, and
Revolt TV is no longer under his control. After the
twenty sixteen footage of him hitting Ventura surfaced, New York
revoked his ceremonial Key to the City, Peloton dropped his

(01:07):
music and Howard University polled his honorary degree. His charter
school in Harlem also cut ties. On the other side
of that coin, Diddy's twin daughters, Jesse and Delilah Colmbs
just announced their launching a fashion line called one two
twenty one. They said, it's quote more than just fashion,
it's personal to us. That's one two twin t y

(01:31):
one one twenty one. Comb's defense said the government had
quote fueled the fire of online conspiracy theories and called
the charges quote a pathetic extortion scheme. A rumored blackmail
list of celebrities never materialized. Jurors only saw a real
list of celebrity names Kanye West, Kid, Cuddy Rita, Aurra Usher.

(01:53):
All that came out during jury selection two screen for bias. Still,
there are a lot of comparisons between Comb's and Jeffrey Epstein,
both men wealthy New York figures accused of using their
power to run secret sex rings, both becoming the focus
of online speculation, and both cases smashing into a brick wall.
For those hoping for a more dramatic takedown of the perps,

(02:14):
The Justice Department recently closed its Epstein investigation, claiming no
quote unquote client list exists, But as the Hollywood Reporter notes,
the denial only deepens public suspicion, especially when a video
clip from Epstein's jail cell shows a one minute time gap.
Combs could be sent to prison for up to twenty years.
Prosecutors say he could serve fifty one to sixty three months.

(02:37):
The defense says it could be less than two years
for more in the case of Sean Diddy. Combs join
Nancy tonight at her new time seven pm Eastern on
Merritt Street Media. Check your local listings four Channel Assignment
and follow crime stories with Nancy Grace wherever you get
your podcasts. More crime and justice news. After this, a

(03:02):
teenage boy's bait stand is shut down by zoning officials
in Wisconsin, calling it a violation and threatening daily fines.
Fifteen year old Max McKinney spent months preparing to open
a bait shed at the end of his family's farm
driveway in Spooner. He stocked it with worms, fishing bobbers, snacks,
cold drinks, and t shirts. Agweb reports his plan was simple,

(03:23):
sell the weekend fishermen at Spooner Lake and save money
for college. He built the stand with some help from
his cousin. It was a six x fifteen wooden shed.
His grandfather had used the same spot since the nineteen
seventies to sell pumpkins, eggs, and other farm goods. By
the second weekend, McKinney had made about one hundred bucks.
Then Washburn County mailed him a cease and desist letter.

(03:44):
It called the bait stand a general merchandise store. It
said the structure broke zoning rules and had to be
removed within fourteen days. If not quote, you may be
issued a citation or a daily forfeiture. Officials later admitted
they took pictures from the road and were acting only
on a citizen complaint. McKinney said he was proud of

(04:05):
his work but shocked quote. I thought I was working
hard and doing the right thing. Roadside stands are legal,
but only for fruit, vegetables and certain agricultural products. His
grandpa filed a formal complaint with the county. He asked
for a site visit. The officials refused and said their
decision was final. A young girl disappears from the bronx

(04:26):
after chasing an ice cream truck and never returns home.
Equila Lynn Hodrick was last seen August twelfth of nineteen
eighty five. She was eight. That evening, her mother saw
her run toward a Mister Softy truck near the corner
of Briggs Avenue and one ninety fourth Street. They had
been sitting together on the front porch. Her mother, eight
months pregnant, could not run after her. Later that evening,

(04:47):
a cousin saw Equilla at an arcade near the same
street corner. She told Equilla's mother, who grew more worried.
When Equila did not return the next day, mom called
the police. Bloodhounds followed Equiala's sent to Webster Avenue the
Metro North train tracks, but there was no sign of
her after that. Police believe Equilla was likely taken by
someone outside of her family. After years of no movement,

(05:09):
the case was reopened by the NYPD Cold Case Squad.
At the time she disappeared, Equilla was four eleven eighty pounds.
She was black with brown hair and hazel eyes. She
wore glasses. She had a gap between her front teeth,
a scar near her right eye, a scar on her
right cheek and discoloration marks on her back and buttocks.
She was last seen wearing cutoff jeans, a white tank

(05:31):
top with yellow and red markings, and light blue sneakers.
Anyone with information contact NYPD at six four six six
ten sixty nine fourteen. For the latest crime and justice news,
follow Crime Alert's hourly update on your favorite podcast app
with this crime Alert. I'm Drew Nelson.