Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs denied bail and will stay in jail as he fights sex trafficking charge and ‘Freak Off’ allegations
SEAN "Diddy" Combs has been denied bail and will stay behind bars awaiting trial despite pleading not guilty to sex trafficking and other charges.
The 54-year-old music mogul was arrested on Monday night following a months-long investigation and, in addition to sex trafficking, has been charged with racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The charges allege that Combs "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct."
Addressing the court after a brief recess late on Tuesday afternoon, US Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky ordered Combs to be held without bail, citing “very significant concerns” about his reported substance abuse and “what appears to be anger issues.”
It comes as...
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs hit with sex trafficking charges
- Damning indictment accuses rapper of holding drug-fueled Freak Offs that lasted days
- Star's entourage 'could be charged' over 'Freak Off supplies' after 1,000 bottles of lube and baby oil seized
- Arrest took place in New York City hotel Monday night
- Victim's lawyer says rapper 'will face justice like R. Kelly'
- Diddy’s ‘Ghislaine Maxwell’ & ‘gatekeeper’ could be key witness in case
READ MORE ON DIDDY
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse after, Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, announced, "We are appealing the decision to hold him without bail."
"We'll fight every day until we don't have to fight anymore," Agnifilo said.
"We made the points that we've been wanting to make. Mr Combs is a fighter. He'll fight this to the end. He's innocent. He's not afraid."
When asked how Combs was doing, Agnifilo said, "He's doing fine. He's a fighter."
Earlier on Tuesday, Combs walked into a Manhattan courtroom with his hands behind his back, even though he wasn't handcuffed, the Associated Press reported.
They argued this was surefire proof that Combs shouldn't be trusted to roam free alongside his alleged victims.
Diddy's downfall
By The U.S. Sun's Senior Reporter Forrest McFarland, who has been reporting on Diddy's legal battles for years
BEFORE Sean "Diddy" Combs' arrest on Monday night, it had been highly speculated that the rap star would find himself in custody after he was repeatedly hit with disturbing accusations - and had two of his mansions raided by the feds.
His mounting legal troubles finally came to a head on September 17, when he was charged with three federal counts, including sex trafficking, for allegedly forcing victims to take part in drug-fueled sex parties he called "Freak Offs."
Hours before his arrest, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed the feds investigating Combs were secretly liaising with Tupac Shakur murder prosecutors on gangland activities.
The development also came after Combs was named 77 times in documents submitted by prosecutors in the Tupac murder case.
Aside from the Tupac probe, Combs was already facing a slew of lawsuits, including one he settled with his ex, Cassie Ventura, after she accused him of rape and abuse.
Disturbing hotel surveillance video from 2016 showed Combs chasing Cassie down and then punching, kicking, and beating her in a hallway.
Two months earlier, in March 2024, two of Combs' mansions were raided by federal investigators, who seized three AR-15s, drugs, and 1,000 bottles of lube which were part of his "Freak Off" supplies.
In addition to his federal criminal charges, Combs also faces a handful of lawsuits with allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and sex trafficking dating back to the early 1990s.
Music producer Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones filed one suit in February 2024, claiming Combs forced him to hire sex workers and participate in sex acts while he worked on his latest album.
Combs has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the federal sex trafficking charges against him, but his battle is far from over.
He faces life in prison if he's convicted on all counts.
UNSEALED INDICTMENT
The court appearance came after a federal indictment detailing the charges was unsealed ahead of Combs' arraignment on Tuesday following his arrest on Monday night by Homeland Security Investigations officers at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan.
Prosecutors accused Combs of using his business empire, called Combs Enterprise, to carry out and cover up his alleged crimes, the documents said.
Combs is willing to offer his Miami home, valued at $48 million, plus his mother's Miami home, worth $2 million, to make bail, reported.
He's also willing to limit his travel, keep his private jet parked in Los Angeles, and wear a GPS tracking device, the report continued.
This comes after Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, shared several mid-morning updates - including the desire to keep Combs in custody until trial.
Williams noted that bail is not wanted in the case and stressed the possibility of pretrial detention.
"There is some presumption of detention in this case and we think that is warranted," he said.
He emphasized that Combs is accused in the indictment of "exploiting women for years" as well as using "embarrassing and sensitive recordings as collateral," adding that the sex trafficking charge carries "significant penalties."
According to the indictment, Williams said he "maintained control over victims in several ways," including allegedly giving them drugs, monitoring their whereabouts, and threatening to take away support.
Williams also confirmed that the raids on Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami earlier this year were tied to the investigation.
Photos presented by Williams showed firearms recovered from Combs' Miami home, including two AR-15s broken into parts and with a defaced serial number.
"Combs did not do this alone," Williams said, adding that he is "not taking anything off the table" as far as others being charged.
"We are committed to bringing justice to everyone who's been victimized by the defendant."
If Combs is convicted and receives a maximum sentence, he faces a combined 45 years behind bars; the racketeering charge has a 20-year max, the sex trafficking charge carries a 15-year max, and the other charge has a 10-year max.
FREAK OFFS
The unsealed indictment revealed Combs held "Freak Offs," where he allegedly forced victims to have sex with sex workers and recorded the disturbing scenes.
"Freak Offs were elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded," prosecutors alleged.
The documents revealed Combs allegedly arranged for sex workers to be transported internationally and across state lines for the freak offs, which sometimes lasted for multiple days and involved multiple sex workers.
Prosecutors said that Combs used "the sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating recordings that he made during Freak Offs as collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims."
The charges also accuse the hitmaker of distributing drugs to victims during the freak offs to keep them "obedient and compliant.";
Victims of the sex acts received IV fluids to recover after the freak offs, the indictment said.
What happened during Sean Combs' 'freak offs'?
Sean Combs' infamous drug-fueled freak offs, first revealed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura's lawsuit in November 2023, have become a central narrative of the indictment, which alleges:
- The music mogul "manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers."
- Freak offs "occurred regularly, sometimes lasted multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers."
- Combs "distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant."
- He and the victims "typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use" after the freak offs.
- Cops "seized various Freak Off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant" from his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
- Combs "hit, kicked, threw objects at, and dragged victims, at times, by their hair," during and separate from the freak offs, which "often resulted in injuries that took days or weeks to heal."
- He also used the "sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating recordings" that he made during freak offs as "collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims."
In March of this year, searches of Combs' homes in Miami and Los Angeles revealed "various Freak Off supplies" including narcotics and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lube.
The rapper's reputation as a hitmaker has been tainted in the past year by several sexual assault lawsuits, a violent surveillance video showing him beating his ex-girlfriend, and the federal sex trafficking probe.
HSI - the lead investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security - handles transnational crime cases, including human trafficking, terrorism, and drug smuggling.
The indictment said that the US government seeks to recover an undetermined amount of money involved in Combs' alleged crimes, court documents revealed.
'NOTHING TO HIDE'
Agnifilo, told reporters that the rapper moved to New York last week to prepare for the charges.
"He came to New York to basically engage the court system and start the case, and it will start today and he’s going to plead not guilty," Agnifilo said outside of Manhattan federal court on Monday.
The evidence against Sean 'Diddy' Combs
The months-long federal sex trafficking probe against Sean Combs has culminated in a searing incictment that was unsealed on Tuesday. Combs has been hit with one count of racketeering and one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution. But behind those legal charges lies a mountain of alleged evidence of menace, violence, and horrific abuse of his fame. The indictment alleges:
- Combs "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct."
- He "created a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."
- The rapper assaulted women by "striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them."
- Combs "manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers" that he called "freak offs."
- Freak offs "occurred regularly, sometimes lasted multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers."
- During freak offs, he "distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant."
- After freak offs, Combs and the victims "typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use."
- In March 2024, during searches of his residences in Miami and Los Angeles, "law enforcement seized various Freak Off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant."
- During and separate from Freak Offs, Combs "hit, kicked, threw objects at, and dragged victims, at times, by their hair…These assaults often resulted in injuries that took days or weeks to heal."
- He also used the "sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating recordings" that he made during freak offs as "collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims."
- Combs himself "brandished firearms to intimidate and threaten others, including victims of and witnesses to his abuse."
- During searches of his homes, "law enforcement seized firearms and ammunition, including three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers, as well as a drum magazine."
- Associates "assisted him in locating and contacting victims who attempted to flee his abuse."
- When witnesses to the abuse threatened his authority or reputation, he and members and associates of the enterprise "engaged in acts of violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm, and verbal abuse. These acts of violence included kidnapping and arson."
"He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers."
Agnifilo previously said that his client has "nothing to hide."
The lawyer described Combs as "a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community."
"He is an imperfect person but is not criminal," he added.
HORRIFIC VIDEO
Since last November, Combs has faced 10 lawsuits, with nine directly accusing him of sexual assault.
A horrifying video from 2016 that was unearthed in May showed Combs physically assaulting his girlfriend at the time, Cassie Ventura.
The surveillance footage showed Combs chasing Cassie while she waited for an elevator at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.
Combs then struck Cassie, threw her on the ground, and kicked her while she lay motionless, the video obtained by showed.
Recent lawsuits against Sean 'Diddy' Combs
After the video was uncovered, Combs shared an apology in a video posted to Instagram.
"These assaults were, at times, witnessed by others and included one instance at a Los Angeles hotel in or about March 2016, which was captured on video and later publicly reported, where Combs
kicked, dragged, and threw a vase at a woman as she was attempting to leave," the documents said.
"When a member of the hotel security staff intervened, Combs attempted to bribe the staff member to ensure silence."
A lawyer for one of the alleged victims also spoke out.
Attorney Rodney Diggs, speaking on behalf of Grace O'Marcaigh, who is suing Combs and his son Christian, said: "The long-awaited arrest of Sean Combs is the first step for our clients receiving justice.
Grace O'Marcaigh's attorney's full statement to The U.S. Sun
Former yacht employee O'Marcaigh filed a lawsuit against Combs' son Christian alleging he sexually assaulted her
“The long-awaited arrest of Sean Combs is the first step for our clients receiving justice.
We leave the criminal aspect of this case in the hands of the people and justice system.
As for the civil cases, we await our time for the facts to reveal themselves and seek the justice our clients deserve.
We also anticipate more victims coming forward. We knew this was coming.
The evidence is very clear and it was only a matter of time.
This is an important step towards justice for all of Mr. Combs’ victims including my clients. Justice will prevail.”
Attorney Rodney Diggs, O'Marcaigh's lawyer
"We leave the criminal aspect of this case in the hands of the people and justice system.
"As for the civil cases, we await our time for the facts to reveal themselves and seek the justice our clients deserve.
"We also anticipate more victims coming forward. We knew this was coming. The evidence is very clear and it was only a matter of time.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"This is an important step towards justice for all of Mr. Combs’ victims including my clients. Justice will prevail."
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.