NEW YORK – Hip Hop mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing sex trafficking and racketeering charges after he reportedly coerced and threatened women to fulfil his sexual desires. The rapper was arrested in Manhattan, New York on Monday.
A criminal federal investigation into the rapper has allegedly been ongoing for months.
Combs was arrested at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan and taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, which investigates organized crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and terrorism.
Over the past year, Combs has been sued by numerous people claiming they were subjected to physical and/or sexual abuse by the music mogul, after his ex-girlfriend, R&B star Cassie accused him of beating and raping her throughout their relationship.
Days later the two reached a settlement to resolve the case.
Combs was also seen on a video, first obtained by CNN in May, showing him violently beating Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel back in 2016.
According to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, Combs was indicted on three counts of racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, cause, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prosecution.
Prosecutors allege Combs and his associates “wielded the power and prestige” of Combs to intimidate and lure female victims into Combs’ orbit under the pretense of a romantic relationship.
Combs allegedly then forced victims to engage in sex acts with male commercial sex workers which were often recorded and later used for Combs’ pleasure – something he allegedly referred to as “Freak Offs”.
The indictment also alleges Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”
It’s also claimed “he also used his business empire to “creat[e] a criminal enterprise” in which associates engaged in or attempted to engage in “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
Reacting to his client’s arrest, Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo said that they were disappointed that federal authorities were going ahead with their prosecution of the Bad Boy boss.
“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.
“Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Diddy’s homes in Florida and California were raided on March 25 when federal agents executed a search warrant. It is believed they seized the rapper’s phones after law enforcement rolled up on him at Miami-Opa Locka airport.
One of Diddy’s attorney’s Aaron Dyer labelled the raids as a “gross overuse of military-level force” and a “witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,” according to Rolling Stone.
