Sean “Diddy” Combs was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation for the purpose of prostitution, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday.
The charges came to light after the hip-hop mogul was arrested by federal authorities in New York the previous night in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News.
Combs is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damien Williams said at a press conference that federal prosecutors will seek to detain Combs.
In the indictment, prosecutors allege that Combs was a member of a criminal organization that engaged in or attempted to engage in criminal activities, including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.
Williams said there were multiple victims in the case but did not provide specific numbers and urged other victims to come forward to authorities.
According to the indictment, Combs is accused of assaulting the woman multiple times over a period of several years, beginning in 2009.
“The indictment alleges that from at least 2008 to the present, Combs abused, threatened and coerced the victims in order to gratify his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct,” Williams told reporters on Tuesday. “As alleged in the indictment, Sean Combs led and participated in a conspiracy to commit criminal acts using the business empire he controlled in order to carry out this conduct.”
According to the indictment, Combs “manipulated the women into participating in highly organized sex acts with male prostitutes,” and also arranged for the women and prostitutes to be flown to him.
According to the indictment, Combs “obtained and distributed drugs from the women, controlled their careers, threatened to terminate them through financial support, and used intimidation and violence to ensure their participation.”
Williams said the investigation into Combs is ongoing and that additional charges could be filed, and that other suspects may also be charged in the case.
“This office is determined to investigate and prosecute those who engage in sex trafficking, no matter how powerful, wealthy or famous they may be,” Williams said.
Read the indictment
The indictment relates to an incident that was caught on hotel security cameras in 2016. CNN aired the footage earlier this year. Combs attacks singer CassieIn the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel, her real name is Cassandra Ventura. Combs apologized. Regarding the incident, he said his actions were “inexcusable” and that he took “full responsibility” for his actions.
According to the indictment, Combs tried to bribe hotel security guards involved in the incident to silence them.
According to the indictment, Combs referred to these incidents as “freak offs.” Prosecutors said Combs orchestrated these “freak offs,” often recording them and distributing controlled substances to the victims to keep them docile and submissive.
“The defendants used embarrassing and sensitive recordings of ‘Freak Off’ as evidence against their victims and the indictment alleges they controlled them in a variety of ways, including by providing them with drugs, threatening to deprive them of financial support and housing, promising job opportunities, monitoring their whereabouts and even dictating their appearance,” Williams said.
The victims did not think they could reject Combs “without risking their safety or subjecting them to further abuse,” Williams said.
Prosecutors also accused Combs of possessing or brandishing a firearm with the intent to intimidate victims or witnesses. Williams said Homeland Security agents who conducted the search of his home Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March Firearms and ammunition were recovered, including three defaced AR-15s and high-capacity drum magazines.
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Homeland Security Investigations declined to comment.
“We are disappointed with the decision by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue what we believe to be unfair charges against Mr. Combs,” Combs’ attorney, Mark Anifilo, said in a statement.
He described Combs as a “music icon, self-made entrepreneur, family man and proven philanthropist” and said, “He’s an imperfect human being, but he’s not a criminal.”
Agnifilo said Combs “is cooperating fully with this investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of the charges being filed. We ask that you reserve judgment until all the facts are known. This is the act of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to vindicating himself in court.”
The unsealed indictment states the following about the incident:
united states of america
V.
Sean Combs
Also known as “Puff Daddy”
Also known as “P. Diddy”
Also known as “Didi”
Also known as “PD”
Alias ​​”Love”
defendant.
Coms has a number of Litigation Combs has been hit with allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse and assault in recent months – all of which he and his representatives have denied.
In November 2023, Ventura Litigation She accused Combs of rape and abuse during their relationship, accusations he denied. A settlement was reached the next day.