On September 16, Sean “Diddy” Combs, an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur, was arrested after a grand jury indicted him on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. As the founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs played a key role in the rise of hip-hop in the 1990s and early 2000s, signing major artists like The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.
A 14-page indictment accuses Sean Combs of abusing, threatening, and coercing women and others for decades to satisfy his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and cover up his actions. He allegedly used the employees, resources, and influence of his business empire to create a criminal enterprise involved in crimes such as sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Although Sean Combs is the only person named in the federal indictment, authorities believe he did not act alone. Combs faces a racketeering charge for creating a criminal enterprise to engage in unlawful behavior. The indictment references security staff, household staff, personal assistants, high-ranking supervisors, and other close associates that aided Combs in achieving his desired goals.
According to the indictment, Combs used the power and prestige of his criminal enterprise to lure women into his celebrity circle, often by posing as a romantic interest. He then allegedly used force, threats, and coercion to compel victims to engage in prolonged sex acts with male commercial sex workers, events he called “Freak Offs.”
According to the indictment, Combs produced, directed, and recorded what he calls “Freak Offs,” where Combs directed victims to engage in sex acts with one another and with himself for extended periods of time, often up to multiple days and usually accompanied by the consumption of controlled substances. With help from his staff, he allegedly supplied both women and men in prostitution with narcotics to keep them compliant. In March 2024, Homeland Security agents raided Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami, seizing narcotics, firearms, ammunition, and over a thousand bottles of lubricant and baby oil, suggesting the nature of the “Freak Offs.” The search also uncovered three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers and a drum magazine, highlighting the intimidation Combs imposed on his victims and guests.
Combs is charged with federal sex trafficking due to the events alleged at the “Freak Offs.” Under federal law, a person is guilty of sex trafficking if they recruit, entice, transport, or exploit someone through force, fraud, or coercion to engage in a commercial sex act, or benefit from such actions.
Combs is accused of using threats of violence and physical assault to force victims into commercial sex acts. He also accused of using coercive tactics such as tracking their movements and appearance, monitoring their medical records, and controlling their housing.
Combs maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to all three counts. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after Judge Andrew Carter denied bail, citing concerns over obstruction of justice and witness tampering. If convicted, Combs faces 15 years to life in prison.
Similar allegations against Combs emerged from a November 2023 lawsuit filed by Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura, demonstrating a pattern of control and abuse. Cassie, an R& B artist formerly signed to Combs’ Bad Boy label as well as his longtime partner, accused Combs of repeated physical abuse and rape over the course of a decade. Her lawsuit claims Combs exerted control over her career by withholding funds, suppressing her music, and isolating her from her support network if she would not comply with performing sexual acts. However, despite the release of graphic footage corroborating Ms. Ventura’s claims of physical assault, the parties agreed to a settlement one day after the lawsuit was filed.
At Combs’ arraignment on September 17, his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, referenced Ms. Ventura’s lawsuit claiming, “the entire criminal case is an outgrowth of one long-term, troubled-but-consensual relationship that faltered amid infidelity”. Agnifilo also argued that the alleged “Freak Offs” were “an expansion of that relationship, and not coercive.”
Combs and Ventura’s settlement triggered a wave of civil lawsuits against the music mogul. He now faces nine ongoing civil suits, filed by former bandmates, dancers, bartenders, and models, with allegations dating back to 1991. These lawsuits echo similar claims of control, abuse, and exploitation, which could potentially support the criminal charges against Combs.
The CSE Institute commends the bravery of survivors like Casandra Ventura for testifying against their abusers and detailing the impact that abuse has on their lives. The CSE Institute also praises the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their dedication to ensuring Sean Combs is held responsible for his crimes.
The CSE Institute will continue to provide updates as this matter progresses.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.