Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail after pleading not guilty to serious charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and the transportation of individuals for prostitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Combs was taken into custody in New York City on Monday after an extensive federal investigation and two high-profile raids on his properties earlier this year. The indictment, which was unsealed on Tuesday, accuses Combs of using his business empire as a front for criminal activities that reportedly spanned over a decade.
Federal prosecutors allege that Combs manipulated women and others through a pattern of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, coercing them into performing sexual acts and engaging in sex trafficking.
This alleged “criminal enterprise” involved drugging victims, including the use of substances such as ketamine and ecstasy, and controlling their careers and finances to keep them compliant. According to the indictment, Combs’ abuse extended beyond women and involved using employees, security staff, and assistants to conceal the illegal activities.
During the raids on Combs’ residences, authorities seized multiple AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers, ammunition, and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, reportedly used during what the indictment described as “freak off” parties—elaborate sexual performances involving sex workers that were allegedly filmed without participants’ consent.
These events, which sometimes lasted for days, caused significant property damage, with one incident costing $46,000 in repairs to a New York penthouse hotel room.
At his arraignment, Combs’ legal team argued that the sexual activities described were consensual. Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ attorney, contested the charges, stating that while Combs may have engaged in unorthodox behavior, it did not constitute sex trafficking. He emphasized that Combs had been cooperative throughout the investigation, even relocating to New York in anticipation of the charges. Despite these arguments, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky denied Combs bail, citing concerns about the risk of flight and obstruction of justice.
The indictment comes after a series of lawsuits and allegations against Combs over the past year, many of which accuse him of similar abusive and coercive behavior. His ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, previously filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual abuse and violence, which was settled for an undisclosed amount. Other former associates, including artists and employees, have also come forward with claims of abuse.
Federal prosecutors continue to investigate the case, and Combs could face significant jail time if convicted. The charges, which paint a disturbing picture of manipulation and abuse, mark a significant fall from grace for the music mogul, who had built a successful career as a producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
This case has attracted widespread media attention, with many awaiting further developments in what is shaping up to be one of the most significant criminal cases involving a high-profile celebrity in recent years.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
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