MIAMI — A man described as Diddy’s “mule” in a lawsuit that spurred a cross-country sex trafficking investigation into the rap mogul, pleaded not guilty to drug possession charges in court Wednesday.

Brendon Paul, 25, whose luggage allegedly contained a small amount of cocaine and 16 marijuana gummies on a plane at Opa-locka Executive Airport as federal agents were raiding Diddy’s homes on Star Island and in Los Angeles last month, did not appear at a brief court hearing Wednesday.

Paul was charged last month with cocaine possession and possession of a controlled substance and was out of jail after a brief stay after posting a bond of $2,500.

After defense attorney Brian Bieber told Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ellen Sue Venzer that his client was not guilty and asked for a jury trial, the judge set the next hearing date for mid-May. Outside the courtroom at the Miami-Dade criminal courthouse, Bieber refused to discuss specifics of the case.

“We will be dealing with it in the courtroom, not the court of public opinion,” Bieber said before entering an elevator and leaving the building.

Paul was arrested by Miami-Dade Police on March 25 aboard a chartered plane at the airport. The plane was suspected of flying Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, and friends to Antigua. It was never clear if the rap star boarded or flew on the carrier.

Paul’s arrest affidavit said the drugs were found in his bag, but made no mention of Diddy. Miami-Dade Police working a different detail at the airport were asked by Homeland Security agents to take a look at the plane linked to Diddy.

Paul’s arrest was not related to the raids on Combs’ mansions, which were part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation. The raids came a month after a lawsuit was brought by a music producer who accused Diddy, 53, of using the producer and others to hire sex workers for him.

In the lawsuit, Paul, from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is described as “Mr. Combs Mule.” The lawsuit filed by music producer “Lil Rod” Jones” goes on to say that Paul got drugs and weapons for Combs.

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