Sean “Diddy” Combs, a renowned American music mogul, has been indicted on federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution, following his arrest by federal agents in Manhattan on Monday night.
The 14-page indictment, which was unsealed on Tuesday, highlights the latest in a series of legal challenges for the 54-year-old music icon. The charges detail that Combs allegedly transformed his vast business empire into a criminal enterprise, involved in sex trafficking, forced labor, and other illegal activities.
According to the indictment, Combs is accused of coercing and threatening women to engage in sexual acts, with claims of physical abuse, including incidents of striking, punching, dragging, and kicking victims. These abuses allegedly date back to 2009.
Prosecutors further claim that Combs provided drugs and financial incentives to women, in exchange for participating in sexual activities with male sex workers. These encounters were described as “highly choreographed performances,” with one notable incident from 2016 alleging that Combs threw a vase at a woman in a hotel after she tried to leave. When a security guard intervened, Combs reportedly attempted to bribe him.
Combs was scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday to respond to the charges. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed frustration with the indictment, labeling it as an “unjust prosecution.”
Agnifilo also defended Combs’ character, emphasizing that while the mogul is “an imperfect person,” he is not a criminal. He added that Combs had voluntarily relocated to New York before the charges were filed, demonstrating his willingness to face the legal battle head-on.
This indictment is the culmination of a challenging year for Combs, who has faced mounting legal pressure. In November 2023, his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie (Cassandra Ventura), filed a lawsuit accusing him of physical abuse, sexual slavery, and rape during their 10-year relationship. Although Combs denied the allegations, the case was settled just one day after the lawsuit was filed, with terms remaining undisclosed.
In the months following, Combs has continued to face a series of lawsuits, filed by both women and men, alleging sexual assault and other misconduct. Just last week, singer Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, sued Combs for sexual assault, battery, sex trafficking, and gender discrimination.
Additionally, a Michigan judge earlier this month ordered Combs to pay $100 million to Derrick Lee Smith, who accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a party nearly 30 years ago. Combs did not appear in court to contest the claims, and his legal team is currently seeking to overturn the ruling.
The indictment also follows a February 2024 lawsuit from producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who worked on Combs’ 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid. Jones accused Combs of sex trafficking, a charge which the mogul has vehemently denied.
This is not Combs’ first brush with the law. In 2001, he was acquitted of bribery and weapons charges related to a nightclub shooting in New York that left three people injured.
Despite his continued denial of the charges, the growing legal battles present a significant threat to Combs’ legacy, which spans his influential role in the 1990s and 2000s hip-hop scene. As the founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs played a pivotal role in launching the careers of stars like Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., and Usher.
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