Pioneering rap star Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested, according to The New York Times and other news outlets.

Mr. Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was taken into custody Monday evening in Manhattan.

The Times reported that a grand jury had indicted him earlier Monday, citing “a person familiar with the indictment.”

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The source told The Times that Mr. Combs was being charged on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

TMZ reported that the feds had planned the arrest for Tuesday. But “something happened” that caused them to make the arrest earlier.

Mr. Combs has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing, calling the claims against him “sickening allegations” from people seeking “a quick payday.”

But the hip-hop star’s Beverly Hills and Miami homes were raided by the federal Homeland Security Department about six months ago, though again it’s not been made publicly explicit on what grounds.

Mr. Combs’ lawyer criticized the arrest in a statement Monday evening to TMZ.

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean ’Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community,” attorney, Marc Agnifilo told the celebrity-news site.

Mr. Agnifilo said his client “has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation” and otherwise acted like an innocent man trying to clear himself rather than a guilty man trying to get away with his crimes.

“He voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court,” he said.

Mr. Combs has been under increasing public scrutiny since last November when Casandra Ventura, an R&B singer known professionally as Cassie, accused him in a lawsuit of years of sexual and physical abuse.

The lawsuit was settled but at least five other women have since filed lawsuits against Mr. Combs accusing him of sexual assault and three others have made sexual-misconduct claims.