The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that it has opened a criminal investigation into rape and sexual assault allegations against Smokey Robinson.

The department said in a statement that its Special Victims Bureau is “actively investigating criminal allegations” against Robinson.

The statement said the probe is in its early stages, and no other details would be provided.

Last week, four former housekeepers of Robinson filed a lawsuit alleging that the Motown music luminary repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them while they worked for him.

The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court seeks at least $50 million ($AUD78.1 million) in damages over the alleged assaults, which the women say took place between 2007 and 2024.

Robinson’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criminal investigation, but previously called the allegations “vile” and “false ” and said the women’s lawsuit was “simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon”.

John Harris and Herbert Hayden, the lawyers for the women, say they are pleased to learn that law enforcement is looking into the allegations.

“Our clients intend to fully cooperate with LASD’s ongoing investigation in the pursuit of seeking justice for themselves and others that may have been similarly assaulted by him,” the lawyers said.

Robinson’s lawyer Chris Frost said last week that the allegations “defy credulity” and are full of inconsistencies.

The four women, whose names have not been made public, each allege that Smokey Robinson would wait until he was alone with them in his Los Angeles house and then sexually assault and rape them, in some cases repeatedly over many years.

One woman said she worked for Robinson from 2012 until 2024 and was assaulted at least 20 times.

Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times.

Harris called Robinson a “serial and sick rapist” who must be stopped.

When asked at a May 6 news conference whether the women had talked to police, Hayden said no, but felt the allegations merited law enforcement getting involved.

All of the accusers said they eventually quit over the assaults.

And all said they feared coming forward over fears of retaliation, public shame and possible effects on their immigration status.

Robinson was among the biggest hitmakers of the 1960s as a central part of the Motown Records machine — both with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, with songs including “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears”.

He is a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.