Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to face trial next year in sex trafficking and racketeering case
The rapper and producer, who has been in jail since his arrest in September, is accused of using his business empire to transport sex workers across state lines to take part in recorded sexual performances called “freak offs”.
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to face trial in May 2024 on serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The 54-year-old rapper, also known as Puff Daddy or P Diddy, appeared in a Manhattan federal court, where the trial date was confirmed. Combs faces accusations of using his business empire, including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment, to facilitate illegal activities involving male and female sex workers. He is charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, carrying potential penalties of up to life in prison, with a minimum of 15 years if convicted.
Prosecutors allege that Combs lured women by offering drugs, financial support, or career advancement opportunities, and used recordings of sexual acts as leverage to silence them. The recordings were reportedly used to ensure that the victims remained silent, with allegations of intimidation through the display of weapons. While Combs is not directly accused of engaging in non-consensual sexual acts, he is accused of physically assaulting women. His legal team maintains that the sexual activity in question was consensual.
During the court hearing, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, requested a gag order to prevent leaks to the media, citing the release of a 2016 video showing Combs assaulting a woman. Prosecutors, however, argued that the request was an attempt to suppress damaging evidence. Concerns were also raised about a comment Agnifilo made, suggesting that the case was a “takedown of a successful black man,” which the prosecution argued could undermine the fairness of the trial.
Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September and remains incarcerated as the trial approaches.
