Former Syracuse Orange basketball player Brendan Paul was arrested on two felony charges at a Miami airport, accused of being a drug mule for rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. The 25-year-old was booked for cocaine and controlled substance possession and was released after posting bail. He was apprehended before boarding Diddy’s private jet with suspected marijuana edibles in his luggage. Federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami in relation to recent lawsuits alleging sexual assault and sex trafficking, but no charges were filed against him.
Paul’s name appeared in a lawsuit filed by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Diddy while working on his album. Paul was described as Combs’ mule and was accused of acquiring and distributing guns and drugs for the rapper. He was also accused of aiding and abetting Combs and his associates in alleged sex trafficking activities by paying sex workers in cash. Paul had transferred to Fairmont State after leaving Syracuse and had expressed interest in focusing on basketball and producing music during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paul’s Facebook account showed posts of him working on “The Love Album” with Combs in 2023. He described being “off the grid” and shared photos of himself with Combs during their collaboration. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 24 to face the charges against him. Paul had previously been a walk-on guard for the Syracuse basketball program from 2018 to 2020, recording three points in 16 games during his time there. He transferred to Fairmont State for the 2020-21 season where he accumulated 51 points in two years.
Having attended Brewster Academy and Hawken High School before his college career, Paul’s involvement with Combs as a mule came to light through the lawsuit filed by Jones. The lawsuit included photos of Paul and Combs together to support the claims against them. The arrest at the Miami airport came as a shock to many who had known him as a former Syracuse basketball player. The case against Paul and Combs continues to unfold as they face serious charges related to drug possession and sex trafficking allegations.
