Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in New York City on Monday. Indictment It was made public Tuesday morning and outlines three federal charges against the rap star.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charged Combs with organized criminal conspiracy, sex trafficking and interstate transportation of prostitution.
“The abnormal acts sometimes lasted for several days, involved multiple sex workers and often involved a range of drugs including ketamine, ecstasy and GHB. [gamma hydroxybutyrate] Combs would distribute them to his victims to keep them docile and submissive.
According to the indictment, “Combs Enterprises members and associates engaged in or attempted to engage in activities that included sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution, coercion and enticement of prostitution, drug offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
“One year ago, Sean Combs stood in Times Square and was handed the keys to New York City. Today he has been indicted and will stand trial in the Southern District of New York,” U.S. Attorney Damien Williams told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors are seeking to hold Combs in custody ahead of trial.
“So we're going to be seeking custody,” Williams said. said“In cases like this, detention is warranted and we believe it is justified.”
Williams was asked whether Combs might be at risk in prison, noting the death of Jeffrey Epstein in prison.
“We are always concerned about the safety of anyone detained pretrial. That is part of our duty,” Williams responded. “But we do not see any connection between Jeffrey Epstein's suicide and what may or may not happen while other defendants are in pretrial detention. Our position is that pretrial detention is justified.” [for Combs] Based on the law and the facts of this case.”
Williams declared the investigation is not closed and refused to drop any further charges.
“The investigation is ongoing and we encourage anyone with information about this incident to come forward and provide information promptly,” he said.
“From at least 2008 to the present, Combs abused, threatened and coerced his victims to satisfy his own sexual desires, protect his reputation and cover up his conduct,” Williams added.
He added: “Sean Combs led and participated in a racketeering conspiracy that used the business empire he controlled to commit criminal acts including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
Prosecutors said Combs “engaged in a persistent and pervasive campaign of physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse” against “women and other individuals.”
The complaint also alleges that Combs repeatedly “assaulted the woman, including punching, hitting, dragging, throwing objects at her and kicking her.”
The indictment alleges that Combs used his businesses and employees “to carry out, facilitate and conceal abusive and commercial sex acts,” including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, according to the complaint.
He killed the victim [to] They physically, mentally and verbally abused me in order to force me to participate in the Freak-Off.”
Prosecutors alleged that Combs was able to gain “absolute loyalty” from his business members through “acts of violence and intimidation.” Combs Enterprises reportedly avoided detection of its illegal activities through “intimidation, manipulation, bribery and threats of retaliation against individuals who witnessed crimes committed by members or associates of the enterprise.”
The alleged physical abuse left the victims with injuries that will take “days to weeks to heal.”
The indictment describes sex acts known as “freak-offs” in which Combs allegedly organized the transportation of sex workers across state lines and even out of the country, and often recorded the acts.
“The abnormal behavior sometimes lasted for several days, involved multiple prostitutes and often involved a variety of drugs, including ketamine, ecstasy and GHB,” Williams told reporters. [gamma hydroxybutyrate] Combs would distribute them to his victims to keep them docile and submissive.”
According to the three-count indictment, the sex acts also included intravenous drips and lighting.
During these sexual acts, Combs is said to have “physically, emotionally and verbally abused the victims,” and the victims were reportedly threatened with loss of income and livelihoods if they refused to participate in the acts.
Williams said Diddy would become violent “when he didn't get his way” and “attacked his victims.” [to] They physically, mentally and verbally abused me in order to force me to participate in the Freak-Off.”
Williams too attention Evidence of the paranormal activity – “electronic devices containing images and videos of paranormal activity involving multiple victims” – was seized during searches of Combs' properties in Miami and Los Angeles in March.
Federal prosecutors said more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and other lubricants used during these sexual acts were seized from Combs' home.
Police also seized three AR-15 rifles, ammunition and high-capacity drum magazines. Prosecutors said the serial numbers on the AR-15s had been defaced.
Following Combs' arrest on Monday, his lawyer, Mark Anifilo, described the entertainment mogul as “an innocent man with nothing to hide.”
“To his credit, Mr. Combs has been extremely cooperative with this investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of the charges,” Anifilo said.
But Williams disagreed, stating: “Generally, and increasingly frequently, the words cooperative or cooperating have taken on a very flexible meaning that, when used in very specific contexts, no longer bears any relation to the meaning of the words. Complying with legal process, etc., does not qualify as cooperation, as the word is used here.”
If convicted on all charges, Combs could face life in prison.
In May, shocking footage surfaced of Diddy assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura at a California hotel in 2016. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that the rapper would not face charges.
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