Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been indicted on federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The indictment alleges that Combs used force, coercion, and violence to control and exploit female victims through his entertainment businesses.

Sean "Diddy" Combs appeared in court on Tuesday to face federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The charges stem from an indictment unsealed earlier this week that alleges Combs ran a criminal enterprise through his businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises, and Combs Global, among others.

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

According to the indictment, Combs and his employees would "intimidate, threaten, and lure female victims into Comb's orbit, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship." Combs allegedly then used force, threats of force, and coercion, to cause victims to engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers that Combs referred to as, among other things, 'Freak Offs.'"

The indictment alleges that Combs often provided IV fluids to his victims following "freak offs" to recover from physical exertion and drug use. During raids on Diddy's home in March, authorities seized "freak off supplies" along with three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers, the court docs stated. The feds took "cases and cases of the kinds of personal lubricant and baby oil that Combs' staff allegedly used to stock hotel rooms for the freak offs - more than 1,000 bottles altogether," Williams said at a press conference.

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges and was denied bail. The judge in the case ruled that there were "no conditions" that she could impose on Combs that would prevent him from posing a danger to the community. The judge also noted that sex trafficking is a crime that happens behind closed doors and that Combs would be hard to monitor even with pre-trial monitoring services.

Combs' legal team plans to appeal the bail decision. "Mr. Combs is a fighter," his lawyer said outside the courthouse following the arraignment. "He's going to fight this to the end."

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

The US District Attorney's office requested the judge deny Diddy's bail ahead of his Tuesday arraignment, characterizing the "I'll Be Missing You" singer as a potential flight risk. The attorney's office worried Diddy would possibly obstruct justice or threaten witnesses. The government pointed to his alleged decades-long history of violence and his pattern of abuse. The attorney's office indicated no bail conditions could address these possible issues.

"Now I want to be clear about two things," US Attorney Damian Williams said during a press conference earlier Tuesday. "First, this office is determined to investigate and prosecute anyone who engages in sex trafficking, no matter how powerful or wealthy or famous you may be. No one should doubt our commitment on that."

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

"Second, we are not done," he added. "This investigation is ongoing, and I encourage anyone with information about this case to come forward and to do it quickly."

Combs entered the courtroom for his arraignment wearing a black T-shirt and khaki pants. He was not handcuffed nor were his feet shackled. After sitting down next to his attorney, Combs glanced around the courtroom and looked at the jury box.

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

Combs has offered $50,000,000 bond as part of a proposed bail package, according to a letter submitted by his legal team Tuesday and obtained by Fox News Digital. In addition, Combs surrendered his passport to counsel on April 1. His mother, Janice, and children Chance, Jessie, D'Lila, and Love Combs each surrendered their passports under the bail proposal.

The defense also proposed the equity of Mr. Combs' residence on Star Island, which was appraised at $48,000,000, and the equity in his mother's home in Miami, Florida.

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

Combs has attempted to sell his airplane since April 2024. The plane has not yet been sold. Defense agreed to keep the airplane in Los Angeles while Combs resided in Florida, if the aircraft was not being chartered.

Combs also voluntarily relocated to New York on Sept. 5 ahead of his arrest, where his counsel then "immediately informed the government of Mr. Combs' whereabouts." His legal team offered to "continually share Mr. Combs' location with the government."

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

Sean Combs' LA home was raided by Homeland Security officials in March.

The indictment against Combs is the latest development in a years-long investigation into the music mogul's alleged crimes. In March, federal agents raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and New York City. Combs was not arrested at the time, but the raids signaled that the investigation was intensifying.

Diddy Hit with Serious Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges

If convicted, Combs faces a minimum of 15 years in prison or a maximum sentence of life in prison.