Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested by federal agents at a Manhattan hotel on Sept. 16 and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, according to the federal indictment.
The hip-hop mogul appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday and, after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky read the allegations, he spoke to enter a not guilty plea.
Attorneys for Combs, who was not handcuffed for the appearance, had proposed that he be released pending the outcome of his trial on a $50 million bond secured by his Miami home. But the judge denied bail, and he was taken into custody to await trial.
The 14-page indictment, filed Sept. 12, stated that Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.” The charges stem from a number of alleged incidents, including the one involving his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in March 2016, which was captured on hotel surveillance and surfaced in May. According to the indictment, Combs created a “criminal enterprise” through his company to attempt to engage in, among other crimes, “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
Outside Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, Combs’s attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters that Combs’s “spirits are good” and “he’s confident” that there will be a positive outcome.
In a statement released on Monday night, Combs’s lawyer said he “is not a criminal” and expressed disappointment “with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution.”
Over the last 10 months, the Bad Boy Entertainment founder has faced allegations of sexual and physical abuse — including by Ventura — that have derailed his career. In March, two of his homes were raided by federal investigators as part of a sex trafficking probe.
What happened?
Combs, 54, was arrested late Monday in New York City, where his attorney said in a statement that his client had “voluntarily relocated … last week in anticipation of these charges.”
In a statement released on Monday night, Agnifilo said, “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is 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 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,” Agnifilo continued. “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.”
TMZ obtained video of Combs reportedly speaking to fans approximately 30 minutes before being arrested at the Park Hyatt Hotel. Earlier in the day, he and his son, Christian “King” Combs, took photos with fans while walking around the city.
What are the allegations against Combs?
For much of the last year, Combs has faced numerous allegations and lawsuits.
Nov. 16: Singer Cassie, who dated Combs off and on from 2007 to 2018, sued him for rape, abuse and sex trafficking. They settled the lawsuit the next day, with Combs not admitting to any wrongdoing.
Nov. 23: Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and raping her in New York City in 1991 when she was a college student.
The same day, Liza Gardner sued Combs, alleging that he and R&B singer-songwriter Aaron Hall took turns raping her and a friend after they met at a 1990 event at the New York office of MCA Records when she was 16.
Dec. 6: A fourth civil lawsuit was filed by a Jane Doe against Combs alleging that she was sex trafficked and gang raped in a bathroom at Combs’s studio at age 17.
Combs spoke out, issuing a denial of all the allegations, saying he “watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” but “enough is enough.”
Feb. 26: Combs was sued by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, a producer on his 2023 album, for sexual harassment and assault. Jones claimed he was drugged, waking up naked and disoriented in bed with Combs and two sex workers.
March 25: Combs’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided in what was called a sex trafficking investigation. His attorney said Combs was innocent and he’d “fight … to clear his name.”
May: Surveillance video of Combs assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway surfaced. He issued a statement saying in part, “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.”
May 21: Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her at his New York City studio in 2003 when she was a 22-year-old model.
May 23: April Lampros sued Combs over what she described as four “terrifying sexual encounters,” including one in which he forced her to take ecstasy and have sex with his then-girlfriend Kim Porter.
Sept. 10: Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit against Combs alleging sexual abuse. She claims he groped her on numerous occasions and trapped her inside a locked car for two hours.
Sept. 16: Combs was arrested.
Updated, Sept. 17, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET:- This story has been updated to include that Combs has entered a not-guilty plea.
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
