Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File
A day after hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested, his federal indictment was unsealed, revealing a number of charges including sex trafficking by force and racketeering.
The 14-page indictment was unsealed on Tuesday and outlined how Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him,” using his vast business empire to engage in a “criminal enterprise” that has gone on for “decades.” Combs was charged on three counts: racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The indictment goes into grisly detail in its description of how Combs used his power and influence to cover up his alleged criminal behavior. Among the activities Combs is accused of taking part related to the racketeering charge are kidnapping, arson, and bribery, going back to “at least in or about 2008.” Combs is also accused of forcing others to lie or “stay silent” about what they knew Combs was doing and threatened them if they didn’t:
When employees, witnesses to his abuse, or others threatened COMBS’ authority or reputation, COMBS 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. In addition, on multiple occasions, COMBS threw both objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked, and shoved others.
The indictment also described that aforementioned abuse, which included the violent 2016 altercation between Combs and Cassie that was caught on a hotel security camera. But it also described an even more sordid system of routine abuse and sex trafficking of women for what was called “Freak Offs”:
COMBS, and other members and associates of the Combs Enterprise, wielded the power and prestige of COMBS’ role at the Combs Business to intimidate, threaten, and lure female victims into COMBS’ orbit, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship. COMBS 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.” Freak Offs were elaborate and produced sex performances that COMBS arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded. In arranging these Freak Offs, COMBS, with the assistance of members and associates of the Combs Enterprise, transported, and caused to be transported, commercial sex workers across state lines and internationally. Freak Offs occurred regularly, sometimes lasted multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers. During Freak Offs, COMBS distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant. Sometimes unbeknownst to the victims, COMBS kept videos he filmed of victims engaging in sex acts with commercial sex workers. After Freak Offs, COMBS and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use.
Combs was arrested in New York on Monday and will be arraigned in federal court. His lawyer Marc Agnifilo defended him by saying: “He’s dealing with this head on the way he has dealt with every challenge in his life.” ABC News reported that Agnifilo said in an earlier statement: “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.”
You can read the full indictment here.
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