Diddy, Don’t…Sean Combs Federally Charged With Trafficking, Racketeering and Abuse

Sean Combs, 54, from Harlem, New York, recently living in Miami, Florida, was arrested on September 16 on three counts involving sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy, according to a DOJ press release.

“As alleged in the Indictment, for years, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in the release. Williams also noted that the investigation was “far from over” and asked for additional witnesses or those victimized by Combs to “come forward” by emailing the DOJ sex trafficking hotline.

Combs had several businesses, including Combs Enterprises, Combs Global and Bad Boy Entertainment, that he ran at times from Los Angeles, California and Manhattan, New York, according to his indictment. These businesses housed Combs’ recording studio, apparel line, record labels, alcoholic spirits business, television network, media company and marketing agency.

Combs allegedly used these businesses and certain employees of these businesses, including household and security staff, personal assistants, and high-ranking supervisors, to “carry out, facilitate, and cover up his abuse and commercial sex,” as detailed in the indictment.

Public Abuse of Women

From around 2009, Combs allegedly assaulted women, reportedly kicking, dragging, punching and striking them, as detailed in the indictment. One of these incidents– involving then long-time girlfriend Cassie Ventura, an American actress and singer– was caught on tape in March 2016 at a Los Angeles hotel. She was reportedly trying to leave when Combs was allegedly captured on video throwing Ventura to the floor and kicking her before dragging her back down the hallway, presumably toward their hotel room.

When a member of the hotel staff at the time reportedly intervened, Combs allegedly tried to bribe them with $50,000 to keep them silent about the incident, but when the video became public, Combs took to his now-deleted Instagram page to make a public apology. In the apology, Diddy claimed responsibility, saying that he had “hit rock bottom” and was seeking therapy and rehab to become a better man.

Despite this incident, prosecutors allege that Combs used his business and the associates within and otherwise to run a criminal organization where they engaged in sex trafficking, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, prostitution, forced labor, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, according to the indictment.

Who’s the Real Freak?

Combs allegedly manipulated, threatened, and coerced women into participating in sexual acts with commercial sex workers in events he called “Freak Offs,” prosecutors say. Combs even allegedly arranged for them to fly out to his location, ensuring the women’s participation by giving them narcotics, threatening to cut off financial support, controlling their career success, and using intimidation and violent tactics.

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifiko, spoke to the press after Combs’ first bail denial and maintained that Combs is innocent and looks forward to clearing his name. Agnifiko also made clear that Combs came to New York nearly two weeks before the arrest to turn himself in and show that he wasn’t a flight risk. Agnifiko claimed in a CNN interview that the prosecutors didn’t want Combs to surrender at that time.

In the same interview, Agnifiko claims that the indictment is focused on only one victim, who he believes to be Cassie Ventura, and the other women are actually witnesses and not victims in the indictment. Because of Combs’ access to planes and money, he has been denied bail twice. As investigators continue to speak with witnesses, Combs has been put on a procedural suicide watch, but his attorney maintains that he is not suicidal, according to local news reports.

Combs has initially pled not guilty, but he faces up to life in prison if convicted, according to the DOJ press release.