Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail after pleading not guilty in a sex trafficking case. A federal judge in New York ordered Combs to remain in custody, citing concerns that he poses a “serious flight risk.”
The 54-year-old was arrested on Monday evening, facing allegations of running a criminal enterprise since at least 2008, which reportedly used drugs and violence to coerce women into fulfilling his sexual demands. He is charged in a 14-page indictment with racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If found guilty on all counts, he could face a sentence ranging from 15 years to life in prison.
During his court appearance in Manhattan, Combs, dressed in a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants, responded “Not guilty” when asked about his plea by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky.
The indictment claims that Combs exploited his status to lure female victims into engaging in prolonged sexual acts known as “Freak Offs.” It states that he distributed controlled substances to maintain their compliance.
U.S. Prosecutor Damian Williams reported that during raids on Combs’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles about six months ago, authorities found firearms, ammunition, and over 1,000 bottles of lubricant. They also discovered three semi-automatic rifles with altered serial numbers.
Combs’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has announced plans to appeal the bail decision, asserting Combs’s innocence and claiming he is the target of an unjust prosecution.
Federal prosecutors allege that Combs abused, threatened, and coerced women to fulfill his sexual desires and protect his reputation. The indictment outlines a criminal enterprise allegedly directed by Combs, involving sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, and bribery.
Although the indictment details several instances of violence against women, it does not specify the number of victims nor accuse Combs of directly engaging in non-consensual sexual acts.
The founder of Bad Boy Records has faced similar accusations previously, including a civil lawsuit filed last November by his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, which he denied but settled shortly after. In May, Combs publicly apologized after video footage appeared to show him assaulting Ventura.
The latest indictment follows multiple sexual assault allegations against Combs, one of the most prominent figures in the history of rap. Several women, including Ventura, have accused him of physical and sexual abuse.
