NOTE: The next article incorporates disturbing content material. Please learn at your personal discretion.
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday evening and indicted on federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering expenses that accuse him of hitting and abusing girls for over a decade and presiding over an empire of sexual crimes.
In a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, Combs was charged with racketeering, intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. The costs are tied to so-called “freak offs,” coerced intercourse acts that Combs allegedly orchestrated and recorded.
Standing to talk, after listening to the allegations whereas displaying little response, his uncuffed palms folded in his lap, Combs pleaded not responsible.
The decide denied Combs bail and ordered he be despatched to jail whereas awaiting path.
In deciding to disclaim Combs bail, Choose Robyn F. Tarnofsky mentioned she has “very important issues” about Combs’ substance abuse and “what seems to be anger points.”
Tarnofsky mentioned she thought-about options however doesn’t assume it’s ample as a result of a lot of what’s alleged occurred behind closed doorways.
Earlier, Combs supplied to publish a US$50 million bond to be launched from custody and likewise supplied to put on a GPS monitor whereas limiting journey to New York Metropolis and Miami, based on a proposed bail package deal filed by his defence group.
Detailing allegations courting again to 2009, the indictment accuses him of abusing, threatening and coercing girls for years “to meet his sexual wishes, shield his popularity, and conceal his conduct.”
U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams, whose workplace is bringing the case, spoke in regards to the allegations towards Combs at a information convention Tuesday morning, mentioning the “freak offs” at the very least 5 occasions in underneath 20 minutes.
“Combs allegedly deliberate and managed the intercourse performances, which he referred to as ‘freak offs’ and he usually electronically recorded them,” Williams advised reporters, saying that federal prosecutors claimed they seized greater than 1,000 bottles of non-public lubricant and child oil from Combs’ property and that these had been used within the intercourse acts.
“The ‘freak offs’ typically lasted days at a time, concerned a number of business intercourse staff, and infrequently concerned a wide range of narcotics corresponding to ketamine, ecstasy and GHB, which Combs distributed to the victims to maintain them obedient and compliant,” Williams defined.
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Combs can be accused of hitting, kicking and throwing objects at victims, inflicting accidents that usually took weeks to heal. It’s additionally alleged that he choked his victims, dragged them by their hair and threw individuals round.
Marc Agnifilo, lawyer for Sean “Diddy” Combs, centre, speaks to members of the media whereas arriving at court docket in New York, US, on Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2024.
Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs
Standing in entrance of a show board, Williams additionally shared photos of a few of the gadgets authorities say had been recovered within the searches, together with AR-15s and a drum journal containing dozens of rounds of ammunition.
Williams mentioned two of the three AR-15s had been taken from Combs’ bed room closet in his Miami residence, and had been damaged down into components. He mentioned the serial numbers on the weapons had been obscured.
“To hold out this conduct, Sean Combs led and took part in a racketeering conspiracy that used the enterprise empire he managed to hold out prison exercise, together with intercourse trafficking, compelled labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and the obstruction of justice,” Williams mentioned in remarks that echoed the three-count indictment.
The indictment alleges that, unbeknownst to his victims, Combs would typically hold movies he filmed of the ladies participating in intercourse acts. Combs used the recordings “as collateral to make sure the continued obedience and silence of the victims,” the indictment mentioned.
As the specter of prison expenses loomed, Combs and his associates additionally pressured witnesses and victims to remain silent by trying to bribe them and offering them with a false narrative of occasions, based on the indictment.
Prosecutors additionally mentioned that Combs’ workers and associates had been witness to the violence and wicked acts, however usually labored with the rap star to assist cowl up his crimes, together with stopping victims from leaving, or monitoring down people who tried to flee.
In addition they allege that Combs’ workers helped their boss pull off the “freak offs” by reserving resort rooms, arranging journey and stocking the rooms with lubricants, linens and lighting, IV fluids and illicit medicine. Prosecutors mentioned workers would clear the rooms when the intercourse acts, which may final days, had been completed.
Christian Combs, son of Sean Combs, arrives at U.S. District Court docket on September 17, 2024 in New York Metropolis. Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in Manhattan on September 16 in a intercourse trafficking probe following a federal indictment.
John Lamparski/Getty Photographs
In a single such 2012 incident, held inside a Manhattan resort, Combs needed to pay greater than “$46,000 to cowl damages to a penthouse room following a freak off,” the prosecution mentioned.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, addressed the indictment and arrest of his consumer earlier Tuesday, telling reporters that Combs wouldn’t plead responsible and insisted upon his innocence.
“Clearly, he’s going to battle this with all of his power and all of his may and the total confidence of his attorneys,” mentioned Agnifilo. “And I count on a protracted battle with a very good end result for Mr. Combs.”
Over the previous 12 months, Combs has been sued by a number of individuals who say he subjected them to bodily or sexual abuse.
— With information from The Related Press
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When you or somebody is experiencing abuse or is concerned in an abusive scenario, please go to the Canadian Useful resource Centre for Victims of Crime for assist. They’re additionally reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
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