Multiple high-powered firearms were seized at YouTube star Jake Paul’s Los Angeles home on Wednesday during an FBI investigation in connection to his arrest during an Arizona mall looting in May.
Heavily-armed agents dressed in tactical gear descended on the $6.9million property in military vehicles around 6am local time after executing a sealed search warrant, TMZ reported.
Aerial footage of the raid, taken by ABC7, showed law enforcement officers walking out of the sprawling Calabasas mansion with several rifles in hand, before loading them onto police vehicles as apparent evidence.
In one shot from the scene, a long-barreled gun was spotted in the backyard resting against a hot tub that has been featured in many of the social media influencer’s recent YouTube videos.
Footage showed what appeared to be a high-powered rifle resting against the star’s hot tub in the backyard that appears in many of his recent YouTube videos
At least 20 federal agents were seen riding in on a procession of military vehicles, including an armored truck during the operation. Several U.S. government marked cars were also spotted in the vicinity.
Authorities refused to comment on the nature of the raid since the warrant has been sealed by a judge, but confirmed they did not plan to make any arrests in the search. A source told TMZ: ‘The FBI is investigating allegations of criminal acts surrounding the incident at Scottsdale Fashion Square in May, 2020.’
In a statement shared on social media, the City of Calabasas confirmed that it was Paul’s home that was being raided by the FBI, which was using the city hall parking lot as a staging area.
The 23-year-old YouTuber however, had been out of state during the search operation, his attorney Richard Schonfeld told TMZ. The lawyer said they plan to cooperate with the investigation.
Sources told the LA Times a SWAT team had been deployed to gain entry into the viral star’s house.
The armed units are usually called in to situations that are deemed high-risk, such as at properties where weapons are believed to be present.
Agents were reported to have searched the 15,000 square-foot home for about an hour and half.
‘The FBI is executing a federal search warrant at a residence in Calabasas in connection with an ongoing investigation,’ a bureau spokesperson said.
‘The affidavit in support of the search warrant is sealed and we are, therefore, prohibited from commenting as to the nature of the investigation.’
At least 20 federal agents hanging off military trucks were seen on the 23500 block of Parksouth Street during the mystery operation
A second FBI raid was also conducted at a separate property belonging to fellow social media personality and friend of Paul, Armani Izadi in Las Vegas, TMZ reported.
Similar scenes unfolded at the Graffiti Mansion owned by Izadi, where heavily-armed units were seen descending on the home.
Footage showed at least one person being taken away in handcuffs. Sources told TMZ the raid was related to the investigation at Paul’s home.
They also reportedly confirmed the probe is connected to ‘allegations of criminal acts’ surrounding an incident involving Paul at Scottsdale Fashion Square in Arizona in May.
Paul rose to fame alongside his brother Logan Paul, 25, on now defunct-video app Vine before transitioning to YouTube, where he now has over 20 million subscribers to his channel which features stunts, pranks, stories from his personal life, and more recently music videos.
He has been embroiled in a number of controversies in recent years, as well as run-ins with the law, including an incident in Arizona in June, when video footage emerged of him at mall while it was being looted.
Jake Paul was charged with two misdemeanor crimes after he was seen at an Arizona mall that was being looted in June
The Scottsdale Police Department identified Paul as a participant in a riot at Scottsdale Fashion Square that had taken place days after the death of George Floyd, on May 30.
He was later charged with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly.
Paul later tried to distance himself from the situation in a statement saying he was in no way involved in any looting or vandalism.
He posted a video days later saying he and friends went to the mall to attend a protest against George Floyd’s death.
They instead found people engaged in looting and property damage that included shattered windows of offices and stores, Paul said, adding that he didn’t participate in that activity.
‘That’s the way it looked on camera. However that isn’t the case,’ he said.
Paul said he kept walking in the mall area despite encountering the criminal activity because he still wanted to find the protest.
‘I’m above that. I don’t need to vandalize. I don’t need to loot and I know it’s not the way forward,’ he said at the time.
Paul also drew backlash last month for blatantly flouting social distancing guidelines as COVID-19 cases spiked in California, by throwing a massive party at the mansion.
Calabasas mayor Alicia Weintraub expressed ‘outrage’ over the ‘outrageous gathering’ in which dozens of people without masks drank and danced.
Paul later indicated to Insider last week that he would continue to do what he wants.
Videos emerged on social media shortly after the party, where revelers showed no concern for social distancing or wearing protective masks.
People were seen drinking, playing beer pong, and swinging off a construction backhoe at the gathering.
Revelers were both indoors and outdoors, crowded closely together without a mask in sight.
Calabasas mayor Alicia Weintraub was left outraged after learning of the party and says she’s looking into ‘all options’ for penalties for Paul.
Paul told Insider that he spoke to the mayor and ‘everything is cool,’ though he didn’t elaborate on what she said.
The mayor, meanwhile, said she didn’t speak to Paul at all, and only a representative for the the YouTuber. She said that possible fines would be issues in the future and the sheriff’s department would intervene.
But Paul didn’t say that would put an end to his wild bashes, and insisted that it wasn’t clear to him how he should be behaving.