US federal prosecutors said Tuesday (17) that Sean “Diddy” Combs used his fame as one of the biggest names in hip-hop to coerce women into engaging in sexual acts as part of a sex trafficking and extortion scheme.
Combs, 54, used the business empire he controlled, including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment, to get women and sex workers to participate in taped sexual performances called “Freak Offs,” during which the music mogul would watch and masturbate, prosecutors alleged.
The singer pleaded not guilty before Judge Robyn Tarnofsky in Manhattan. She is expected to decide whether Combs should remain in custody until trial.
The rapper and producer could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison if convicted of all three charges: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Rapper arrested
Combs was arrested Monday night (16). The office of Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, which filed the charges, said in a court filing that the potentially steep sentence could encourage the rapper to flee, justifying his detention.
Defense attorneys are seeking the artist’s release on $50 million bail, which would be secured by his Miami home.
Understand the accusation
Prosecutors have charged Sean Combs with running a criminal enterprise to facilitate the exploitation of women.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik said during the hearing that her team interviewed 12 witnesses who saw Combs engage in violence against women or saw women suffering injuries from his abuse.
“Defendant Sean Combs has physically and sexually abused victims for decades. He is an extreme danger to the community,” Slavik said.
According to the indictment, the rapper lured women by giving them drugs such as ketamine and ecstasy, financial support or promises of professional support or a romantic relationship.
Combs then used secret recordings of the sex acts as “assurance” that they would remain silent and at times displayed weapons to intimidate abuse victims and witnesses, prosecutors said.
“The victims did not believe they could refuse Combs without risking their safety or facing further abuse,” Williams alleged at a news conference.
“This office is determined to investigate and prosecute anyone who engages in sex trafficking, no matter how powerful, wealthy or famous you are,” he added.
The indictment did not specify how many women were victims of the scheme. It also did not contain any allegations that Combs himself had unwanted sexual relations with women, although he was accused of punching, kicking, throwing objects and dragging them.
Also known during his career as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, Combs founded Bad Boy Records and is credited with helping turn rappers and R&B singers such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars in the 1990s and 2000s.
Last November, Casandra Ventura, the rapper’s ex-girlfriend and R&B singer known as Cassie, accused him of serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape.
She reached an undisclosed settlement a day after the lawsuit. Combs has denied her allegations.
Defense denies accusations
Attorney Marc Agnifilo, who represents Sean Diddy, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday (17).
However, he expressed disappointment on Monday (16) with the “unfair” process against his client, calling Combs “an imperfect person” but “not a criminal.”
Rifles and drugs
Prosecutors said Combs and his associates used bribery and violence — including arson and kidnapping — to try to keep the case secret.
Authorities noted that in March 2016, in a case that closely resembles Cassie’s accusation, Sean Combs was caught on hotel security camera attacking and dragging a woman.
The rapper then offered money to a hotel security guard who intervened, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors also alleged that in 2011, Combs and another individual kidnapped a person at gunpoint. Two weeks later, other suspects set a car on fire, and he later bragged about his role in the fire, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors said the artist’s employees helped book hotel rooms and purchase controlled substances and other items used during sex.
During raids on the rapper’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida, six months ago, authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, along with AR-15 rifles with tampered serial numbers, the indictment said.
This content was originally published in Sean “Diddy” Combs is accused of sex trafficking; singer pleads not guilty on CNN Brasil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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