- YouTuber
Jake Paul released a video statement addressing the AugustFBI raid on his Calabasas mansion. - Paul claimed that the raid was only in connection with investigations into looting at an Arizona mall in May 2020, where Paul and his teamed filmed a video.
- Paul also tried to put down rumors that activities conducted by his associates could be a reason for the raid, claiming that he's removed anyone doing "malicious" things from his life.
- While Paul didn't clarify who he was referring to, his associate Arman "Armani" Izadi's "Graffiti Mansion" event space in Las Vegas was also raided by agents.
Controversial YouTube stuntman, rapper, and professional fighter Jake Paul was the target of an August 5 FBI raid at his Calabasas mansion. Now, over a week later, Paul has issued his first statement about the incident and is trying to put to speculation about him and his associates to bed.
The raid was accompanied by another search of the "Graffiti Mansion" event space in Las Vegas that belongs to Paul's associate Arman "Armani" Izadi, where Paul notably staged his wedding to influencer Tana Mongeau.
A spokesperson for the FBI told Insider the warrant affidavit is sealed, but also confirmed that the raids are in connection with investigations into looting that took place at an Arizona mall in May 2020 during the protests over the killing of George Floyd.
Paul traveled to the closed shopping mall and was filmed alongside individuals who appeared to snag a liquor bottle from a restaurant and hand it to Paul. Paul was initially charged with two misdemeanors: criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly.
The charges were dropped by the Scottsdale Police Department after the FBI raid "so that a federal criminal investigation can be completed," according to a press release, Fox
In a video statement released Wednesday addressing the search, Paul stated that the FBI raid on his home "is entirely related to the Arizona looting situation that had happened and it is an investigation."
"There are rumors about it having to do with so many other things that have nothing to do with me or my character, and the s--- that people are making up is absolutely absurd," Paul continued on to say. "But with that being said, when I become aware of someone around me who is doing malicious things, they are immediately cut out of my life."
"I don't put up with bulls---, I don't surround myself with bad people, and if someone does something bad, they will be removed from my life," he said.
Paul didn't clarify who he 'cut out' of his life, but there were multiple people with him at the mall in Arizona
Soon after the FBI raids were reported, speculation over Izadi's involvement took place. Not only did FBI agents raid his residence in Las Vegas, but Izadi took ownership for his role the night he, Paul, and several associates went to the Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Izadi even posted a picture of himself holding a sign that said "Charge Me Too" to his Instagram account after Pauls' misdemeanor charges were announced, but he later deleted the picture.
The "Graffiti Mansion" owner hasn't been with Paul for the past two weeks, as he's posted regularly to his accounts about being in Las Vegas, surrounded by women in bikinis refurbishing the event space and creating branded merchandise, including "Graffiti Mansion" face masks.
Izadi also has a criminal history. In 2013, Izadi was arrested in Las Vegas on 20 counts, including robbery, kidnapping, pandering (also known as pimping), and battery.
The charges were dropped after Izadi entered a plea deal on one count of pandering on, and Izadi maintains his innocence, describing the court proceedings as the "largest police corruption scandal in Las Vegas history" on his YouTube channel.
At the time of the trial, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reviewed police records and reported that "Izadi lured women to his prostitution ring with promises of immense wealth, his companionship, and most of all, his protection."
The Las Vegas Sun reported that a woman who says she tried to quit working as a prostitute was subjected to what she characterized as "water boarding" by Izadi.
In addition to Izadi's presence at the Scottsdale mall, Paul's videographer Andrew Blue posted videos to social media, including some of looters breaking a display car and of himself asking if someone could grab him "free cologne" from a Sephora that was being broken into.
After the Arizona videos became the target of social media ire, a petition to arrest Paul and his frequent YouTube collaborator Tanner Fox, who was also reportedly at the mall, received thousands of signatures.
Paul and his team didn't respond to Insider's request for comment, though he has resumed partying at his Calabasas residence, videos from the night of August 12 show.
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