Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul and entrepreneur, was arrested on Monday in New York City and faces multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The charges stem from a months-long investigation, with a sealed indictment being opened on Tuesday morning by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Combs, who had voluntarily traveled to New York in anticipation of his arrest, was taken into custody by federal agents.

The unsealed indictment alleges that Combs, through his businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment and Combs Enterprises, operated a criminal enterprise involved in trafficking and coercing women into performing non-consensual sex acts.

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The indictment further accuses Combs of using violence, threats, firearms, and emotional abuse to control his victims and fulfill his personal desires.

These activities reportedly took place over several years, with Combs allegedly exploiting female victims under the pretense of romantic relationships and coercing them into engaging in sexual acts with male commercial sex workers.

According to court documents, Combs hosted what were referred to as “Freak Off” parties, where women were forced into sexual acts while Combs directed and recorded the encounters.

The indictment details how these events were elaborate productions, often involving male sex workers transported across state and international borders.

After the encounters, Combs allegedly provided IV fluids to the women to help them recover from the physical and emotional strain as well as from drug use.

In addition to sex trafficking, the indictment lists various criminal activities, including kidnapping, arson, and bribery.

The allegations also accuse Combs of distributing drugs, including cocaine, oxycodone, MDMA, and ketamine.

During raids on Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami in March, authorities seized large quantities of “freak off” supplies, drugs, and firearms, including AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers.

The indictment also mentions that Combs used recordings from the “Freak Off” events as leverage to control and silence his victims, promising career advancements to those who complied and threatening to ruin the lives of those who resisted.

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has strongly denied the charges, asserting his client’s innocence. Speaking outside the courthouse on Tuesday, Agnifilo stated that Combs is prepared to fight the charges, saying, “His spirits are good. He’s confident. He is dealing with this head-on, the way he’s dealt with every challenge in his life.”

Agnifilo further added that Combs has been cooperative with the investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York in anticipation of the charges. “He is not guilty. He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might, and I expect a long battle with a good result for Mr. Combs.”

The indictment accuses Combs of running a criminal enterprise through his businesses that allowed him to maintain power and exploit women.

The accusations span more than a decade, with many of the incidents taking place from 2008 to the present.

Combs faces multiple counts related to sex trafficking, coercion, drug distribution, and racketeering. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.

In the wake of the mounting allegations, Combs has faced significant professional fallout.

In November, he stepped down as chairman of his cable network, Revolt. In a statement, the network said, “This decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and African diaspora.”

Despite his legal troubles, Combs has maintained a public presence in recent weeks. Just hours before his arrest, he was seen walking with his son Christian “King” Combs in New York.

Combs had been in the city for several days and was reportedly aware that an indictment was imminent, though he did not know exactly when the arrest would occur.

Combs is expected to appear before a federal judge, where the charges against him will be formally read.

His legal team has indicated that they will fight the charges aggressively, with his attorney stating that they are prepared for a “long battle” to clear Combs’ name.

As the case unfolds, the details of the indictment and the investigation into Combs’ alleged criminal enterprise will continue to emerge.

If convicted, the once-revered music icon faces significant time behind bars, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a man who built an empire in the entertainment industry.

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Original article:

Sean “P Diddy” Combs, the famed rapper and hip-hop mogul, was arrested Monday night at a New York City hotel as part of a federal sex trafficking investigation, officials confirmed.

The arrest, carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), took place at the Park Hyatt New York, where Combs was staying.

The 54-year-old music star voluntarily traveled to New York in anticipation of the charges, which stem from a sealed grand jury indictment.

According to sources, Combs, who had been seen earlier in the evening walking through Manhattan with his son Christian “King” Combs, was taken into custody by HSI, which typically handles sex trafficking cases.

The specific charges Combs is facing were not immediately revealed, but he is expected to be arraigned at Manhattan federal court on Tuesday morning.

At that time, the indictment will be unsealed, shedding more light on the allegations against him.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams confirmed the arrest, saying, “Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY. We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”

Past Allegations Against Combs

Combs has been the subject of multiple allegations of sexual and physical abuse throughout his career, dating back to his rise to fame in the 1990s and early 2000s as a producer working with artists like Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, and the late Biggie Smalls.

In November of last year, Combs was first accused of domestic and sexual violence by his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura.

Ventura’s lawsuit claimed a pattern of abuse, including beatings, repeated rapes, and trafficking.

She also alleged that Combs hired male sex workers and forced her to engage with them while he filmed.

While Combs quickly settled Ventura’s lawsuit, the case opened the floodgates, with more than six additional alleged victims coming forward with lawsuits of their own.

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Many of these claims also involve accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse during Combs’ peak years in the entertainment industry.

In March, Homeland Security raided Combs’ properties in Beverly Hills and Miami as part of their ongoing investigation.

Although it is unclear what investigators were specifically searching for, the raids are believed to be connected to the federal sex trafficking probe now leading to his arrest.

Disturbing Video Surfaces

Adding to the controversy surrounding Combs, a video aired by CNN in May of this year showed a 2016 incident in which Combs assaulted Ventura in a hotel hallway.

The video depicts Combs throwing Ventura to the ground, kicking her, and dragging her along the floor. Following the release of this footage, Combs posted an apology on social media, the first time he publicly addressed the allegations of abuse.

“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that. I was f—ed up — I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses,” Combs said in the video. “My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.”

He added that he sought professional help afterward, going to therapy and rehab, and expressed his commitment to becoming a better man.

More Lawsuits Emerge

Combs has continued to face legal challenges as more alleged victims come forward. In addition to Ventura’s claims, three more women filed lawsuits against him just before the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act in December.

These women, Joi Dickerson-Neal and Liza Gardner, accused Combs of sexual assault in separate incidents.

Another plaintiff, known as Jane Doe, alleged that Combs and the president of his entertainment company, Harve Pierre, sexually assaulted her when she was just 17 years old.

Combs has denied these allegations and maintained that the claims are false, saying, “Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation, and my legacy.”

Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, a music producer who worked with Combs, also filed a lawsuit against him earlier this year, claiming that Combs sexually assaulted him and forced him to perform sexual acts with prostitutes.

Jones added actor Cuba Gooding Jr. to the lawsuit, alleging his involvement in the assaults. Combs’ legal team strongly refuted the claims, with his attorney calling Jones’ lawsuit “complete lies” and accusing him of seeking a $30 million payday.

Legal Response

Despite the growing number of accusations, Combs’ legal team continues to defend him vigorously. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, issued a statement following Combs’ arrest on Monday night, calling the prosecution “unjust.”

“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,” Agnifilo said. “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 voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.”

Agnifilo urged the public to withhold judgment until more facts are revealed in court, stating, “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.”

Combs is expected to face civil and criminal litigation as the investigation continues.

Federal authorities have indicated that further information about the charges will be available on Tuesday once the indictment is unsealed in court.

For individuals who have experienced sexual assault and need support, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673.

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