Topics: Crime, Diddy, Music, New York, Police, Sex Trafficking, True crime, US News, Drugs
Warning: This article contains discussion of abuse and drug use which some readers may find distressing.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been denied bail and ordered to jail after being charged with racketeering and sex trafficking.
On Monday (September 16), the 54-year-old rapper was arrested at Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan, New York, after being indicted by a grand jury. He was charged with racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion - charges of which he pleaded not guilty.
Combs was arrested around six months after his homes were raided by authorities and it's since been revealed what was discovered.
Advert
The indictment was unsealed yesterday morning and revealed Combs has been accused of having 'abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct', alongside using 'employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled' to 'attempt to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice'.
The indictment describes the abuse towards 'women and other individuals' as a combination of 'verbal, emotional, physical and sexual' and states the 'physical abuse by Combs' was 'recurrent and widely known,' also referring to the video of him and Cassie Ventura in a hotel corridor.
The indictment alleges Combs would organize 'Freak Offs' - forcing sex-trafficking victims to engage in group sex acts, 'distribut[ing] a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant', which he 'directed, masturbated during and often electronically recorded'.
And when Combs' homes were raided earlier this year, authorities found items which seemingly relate to the alleged 'Freak Offs'.
It continues: "After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use."
US attorney Damian Williams said 'hotel rooms' were 'booked' and 'stocked' with 'supplies, including drugs, baby oil, personal lubricant, extra linens and lighting,' as quoted by Mail Online.
Indeed, when Combs' Miami and Los Angeles homes were raided in March, officials seized items including lubricant and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil, alongside drugs and three AR-15 rifles, the indictment revealed.
Later on yesterday, Combs appeared in a New York court and pleaded not guilty, his lawyers arguing to release him for home detention on a $50 million bond.
However, branded a 'serious flight risk' with the 'money, manpower and tools' to flee, he was denied bail and ordered to jail.
In response to the news of Combs' arrest, Agnifilo told UNILAD: "We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
"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, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.
"To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court."
UNILAD has contacted Combs' representatives for further comment following the rapper being denied bail.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline on 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 24/7. You can find a list of local resources here.
