Sean “Diddy” Combs used his fame as one of hip-hop’s biggest names to coerce women into engaging in degrading sexual acts, part of a decades-long scheme of sex trafficking and racketeering, according to a three-schedule federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Prosecutors said that since 2009, Combs used his vast media empire, including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment, to transport women as well as male sex workers across state borders, where they participated in recorded sexual performances called “freak offs” that the music legend would masturbate to.
The 54-year-old rapper and producer was arrested in Manhattan on Monday night and is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Tarnofsky on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT). Combs could face decades in prison if convicted of three felony charges: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The charges were brought by the office of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who wants Combs held in custody pending trial.
Prosecutors said Combs lured the women by offering drugs such as ketamine and ecstasy, offering financial support, or promising career help or a romantic relationship. According to the indictment, Combs used secret recordings of the sex acts as “collateral” to ensure the women remained silent, and sometimes brandished weapons to intimidate abuse victims and witnesses.
“The victims did not believe they could refuse Combs without risking their safety or facing more abuse,” Williams said in a press conference.
There was no allegation in the indictment that Combs himself had unwanted sexual contact with the women, though he was accused of assaulting the women by punching them or throwing objects at them.
‘A music icon’
Combs’ attorney, Mark Agnifilo, did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the indictment was made public, but on Monday night expressed disappointment in the decision to pursue an “unfair” prosecution of his client.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, loving his children and working to uplift the Black community,” Agnifilo said Monday night. “He’s an imperfect man, but he’s not a criminal.”
Combs is the most high-profile figure in the music industry to face criminal charges for sexual misconduct since R&B singer R. Kelly was sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison after pleading guilty in New York in 2021 and Chicago in 2022 to charges including sex trafficking, racketeering and child sex crimes.
Also known as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy during his career, Combs founded Bad Boy Records and is credited with helping make rappers and R&B singers such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher stars in the 1990s and 2000s.
His career and reputation have suffered over the past year. Last November, his ex-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura, the R&B singer known as Cassie, accused him of persistent physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape during a decade-long relationship. She agreed to an undisclosed settlement a day after filing the suit, while Combs denied her allegations.
Combs has since faced civil lawsuits filed by several other women and men accusing him of sexual assault and other misconduct. His lawyers are fighting those cases in court. Federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida, six months ago.
Baby oil, AR-15 rifles
According to the indictment, Combs’ employees helped arrange the “freak offs” by booking hotel rooms and purchasing controlled substances and other items used during sex.
According to the indictment, during searches of Combs’ homes in Miami, Florida and Los Angeles, authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, as well as AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers.
The indictment did not specify how many women were alleged victims of the scheme.
This is not the first time Combs has been charged with bribery and weapons charges in March 2001, stemming from a shooting at a nightclub that left three people injured.
The ongoing civil lawsuits against Combs include one filed last week by singer Dawn Richards, formerly of Danity Kane, who accuses Combs of sexual harassment, assault, sex trafficking, gender discrimination and fraud.
This month, a Michigan judge ordered Combs to pay a $100 million default judgment to Derrick Lee Smith, who said Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party nearly 30 years ago. Combs’ lawyer said he would seek to dismiss the case.
Combs has also denied claims in a sex trafficking lawsuit made in February by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, whom Combs employed as a producer on his 2023 release “The Love Album: Off the Grid.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
