Sean Combs, generally known as P Diddy or Puff Daddy, the rapper and music mogul credited with launching the careers of main stars, has been within the highlight not too long ago for authorized troubles.
Combs was arrested on Monday, September 16, by federal brokers in New York after going through months of civil lawsuits alleging intercourse trafficking, sexual abuse and rape.
Combs, who was denied bail twice, is being held on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn.
In keeping with The Impartial, federal prosecutors in a newly unsealed indictment accuse Combs and his associates of coercing and abusing ladies to fulfil his sexual needs, together with forcing victims into recorded sexual actions, which he allegedly referred to as “Freak Outs.”
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, referred to as the rapper “an harmless man.”
“We’re disenchanted with the choice to pursue what we consider is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace,” Agnifilo instructed The Impartial by way of e mail.
Sky Information stories that the fees relate to intercourse trafficking, drug possession and firearms offences.
The three main expenses outlined by the Southern District of New York in a authorized indictment are racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking by power, fraud, or coercion and transportation to have interaction in prostitution.
The indictment, as reported by Sky Information, alleges the next:
- Combs is alleged to have “abused, threatened, and coerced ladies and others round him to fulfil his sexual needs, shield his status, and conceal his conduct” courting again to not less than 2008.
- The 54-year-old is accused of leveraging his workers, assets, and business affect to determine a “prison enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and tried to have interaction in, amongst different crimes, intercourse trafficking, compelled labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice”.
- He’s accused of coercing feminine victims and male intercourse employees into collaborating in drug-fueled sexual acts, known as “Freak Offs,” based on the authorized doc.
- In keeping with Sky Information, the doc mentions “Freak Offs” 16 occasions, describing them as elaborate, staged sexual performances that Combs orchestrated, directed, and infrequently recorded, whereas additionally partaking within the acts.
- Prosecutors declare that victims had been administered managed substances throughout occasions that generally lasted for days, protecting them “obedient and compliant.” Combs allegedly subjected them to “bodily, emotional, and verbal abuse” to compel their participation.
- The indictment additional alleges that Combs and his enterprise associates “engaged in acts of violence, threats of hurt, each bodily and reputational and verbal abuse.” These acts reportedly included kidnapping and arson when people who witnessed the alleged abuse challenged his authority or status.
The Impartial additionally revealed all of the allegations in opposition to Sean Combs, noting that lawsuits in opposition to the rapper started on November 16, 2023, when he was sued by singer and dancer Casandra Ventura, often known as Cassie, his former associate, who alleged years of abuse.
Allegations
- Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura
R&B singer Casandra Ventura, often known as Cassie, filed a 2023 lawsuit accusing Combs of subjecting her to a decade-long sample of trafficking, rape, and bodily abuse.
A 2016 surveillance footage, obtained by CNN on Might 17, 2024, appeared to validate facets of Ventura’s allegations, capturing Combs chasing and violently assaulting her in a Los Angeles lodge hall.
In a swift decision, Ventura settled the lawsuit with Combs for an undisclosed sum simply in the future after submitting, stating she most well-liked to “resolve this matter amicably.”
- Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith
Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, a 51-year-old inmate, filed a lawsuit alleging Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a celebration three a long time in the past, as revealed in courtroom paperwork obtained by Detroit’s Metro Occasions.
Combs’ failure to attend a digital listening to resulted in a $100 million default judgment in favour of Cardello-Smith on September 9.
- Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones
A February 2024 lawsuit in New York accuses Combs of subjecting music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones to a protracted marketing campaign of sexual harassment, intimidation and exploitation.
Jones, who labored for Combs from September 2022 to November 2023, alleged undesirable advances by Combs’ associates and compelled into encounters with intercourse employees employed by Combs.
Joie Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit in November 2023, accusing Combs of drugging, sexually assaulting, and secretly recording the assault with out her consent in 1991, whereas she was a university pupil, based on NBC Information, citing courtroom paperwork.
Following the discharge of CCTV footage exhibiting Combs attacking Ventura, former mannequin Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit in Might alleging Combs sexually assaulted her at his New York Metropolis recording studio in 2003.
Shortly after McKinney’s lawsuit, April Lampros got here ahead alleging Combs sexually assaulted her a number of occasions between 1995 and the early 2000s, following their preliminary assembly whereas she was a pupil.
Daybreak Richard, a former bandmate, sued Sean “Diddy” Combs in New York federal courtroom, alleging years of bodily and sexual abuse beginning in 2009.
Richard accuses Combs of withholding fee, groping, making lewd feedback, bodily violence, and demise threats, additionally claiming he enabled the sexual exploitation of underage women and abused singer Cassie.
Combs has denied all allegations and vowed to defend himself, pleading not responsible to all expenses.
“Diddy is an imperfect individual however will not be prison,” Combs’ lawyer had mentioned.
“To his credit score, Mr Combs has been nothing however cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York final week in anticipation of those expenses.
“Please reserve your judgment till you may have all of the information. These are the acts of an harmless man with nothing to cover, and he seems to be ahead to clearing his title in courtroom,” his lawyer added.