Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio have won a legal victory after a federal judge sanctioned an attorney who filed what the court described as a frivolous lawsuit linking the couple to a bizarre alleged sex-trafficking scheme involving Sean “Diddy” Combs.
U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks ordered attorney Travis Walker to pay $7,500 in sanctions after he submitted an amended complaint accusing the Estefans of having an underground tunnel connecting their former Star Island home in Miami to Diddy’s nearby residence. The lawsuit, filed by Palm Beach resident Manzaro Joseph, alleged that he was drugged, abducted, and transported through the tunnel in 2015, where he claimed multiple celebrities—including LeBron James—assaulted him.
The court dismissed the claims as “objectively frivolous” and “beyond implausible.” Engineers confirmed that Star Island’s foundation and water table make such a tunnel structurally impossible. Public records also placed James in Cleveland playing NBA games at the time of the alleged events.
Estefan’s legal team had warned Walker of glaring inconsistencies prior to filing, but he proceeded regardless. The court found that Walker relied heavily on Joseph’s account without conducting a proper investigation, citing vague surveillance images and a redacted police report with inaccurate dates.
Judge Middlebrooks declined to sanction Joseph, pointing to possible mental health concerns, but emphasized the responsibility rested with his attorney.
The Estefans, who sold their Star Island home to Diddy in 2021, have denied any involvement. Emilio Estefan has vowed to pursue further legal action, stating, “We work hard to build our reputation, and they’re going to have to pay for trying to damage it.”
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