Sean “Diddy” Combs Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Trafficking Charges
Following the arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs on Monday night (Sept. 16), the federal indictment was unsealed the following morning revealing that Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He’s since plead not guilty to all charges and will not be granted bail.
Federal prosecutors described Combs as dangerous and insisted that he be reprimanded in jail without bail. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said in court, “Mr. Combs physically and sexually abused victims for decades. He used the vast resources of his company to facilitate his abuse and cover up his crimes. Simply put, he is a serial abuser and a serial obstructor.” AUSA Johnson also noted that Combs has an “extensive and exhaustive history of obstruction of justice,” including alleged bribery and witness intimidation, per Associated Press.
Combs’ legal team requested that he be released on $50 million bond under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
“He is not a perfect person. There has been drug use. He has been in toxic relationships,” his attorney Marc Agnifilo said in court. Agnifilo later claimed that Combs was receiving “treatment and therapy for things that he needs treatment and therapy for” while mentioning that Combs came to New York voluntarily to cooperate in the case.
In the indictment, Combs was accused of drugging both male and female victims for “Freak Offs,” as well as physically assaulting members of his staff. He was describes as the head of a criminal enterprise that “engaged or attempted to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, drug offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.” Prosecutors reportedly interviewed over 50 victims and witnesses—and that number is expected to rise.
Combs’ arrest came six months after federal authorities raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami and found evidence of drugs, footage of said “Freak Offs,” more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, and firearms plus ammunition including three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers.
If convicted on every charge, each would require a mandatory 15 years in prison with the possibility of a life sentence.
The investigation stemmed from Cassie Ventura’s explosive lawsuit from November 2023, which also sparked a series of lawsuits accusing Combs of sexual assault, sexual trafficking, and other heinous, criminal activity.
