Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs latest: Rapper denied bail on sex trafficking and racketeering charges as accusers speak out

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail after pleading not guilty to charges of racketeering and sex trafficking as his accusers have spoken out against him.

The rapper appeared in court in New York on Tuesday after being accused of allegedly running a decades-long “criminal enterprise” that forced women into sex acts.

Lawyers argued Combs should be allowed to remain on house arrest, but the judge ordered the rapper be housed at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until trial.

Combs is expected to appear in court again today after his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, is appealing the decision.

Meanwhile, his accusers have spoken out following his arrest. Natania Reuben claims Combs was the one who shot her in the face in the infamous 1999 night club shooting. On learning of his arrest on Monday, she told The Daily Beastit was “one of the best days ever”.

Combs was acquitted, but Reuben claims he evaded justice.

In an indictment unsealed on Tuesday morning, federal prosecutors allege Combs threatened and abused women “to fulfill his sexual desires” by forcing them to engage in recorded sexual activity.

Agnifilio said Combs was “an innocent man with nothing to hide.”

Key Points

• Sean ‘Diddy Combs’ charged with racketeering and sex trafficking

• Indictment alleges Combs forced victims into ‘Freak Offs'

• Federal agents found AR-15s and ‘1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant’ in Combs home

• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested on Monday evening

• What other allegations has Combs faced?

Inside notorious prison where Combs is being held

11:07 , Rhian Lubin

Combs is currently being held in the Special Housing Unit of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

The notorious prison has also housed Ghislaine Maxwell, R Kelly and Billy McFarland to name a few.

It has been plagued by outbreaks of violence, unsanitary conditions and chronic understaffing, according to reports.

The rapper is reportedly being kept away from other prisoners at the moment.

WATCH: Diddy’s lawyer says he is ‘a fighter and not afraid of charges’ after bail refused

10:30 , Rachel Sharp

‘A win for women all over the world’: Aubrey O’Day celebrates Diddy’s arrest

10:00 , Rachel Sharp

Singer Aubrey O’Day has praised the arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs on sex trafficking and racketeering charges as “a win for women all over the world.”

O’Day, who was a member of Diddy’s Danity Kane girl group, is one of a growing list of accusers who have filed civil lawsuits against the music mogul.

In a post on X, O’Day said she felt “validated” following his arrest.

“The purpose of Justice is to provide an ending and allow us the space to create a new chapter,” she said.

“Women never get this. I feel validated. Today is a win for women all over the world, not just me. Things are finally changing.”

IN DEPTH: The saga continues... authorities name Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as architect and leader of a ‘criminal enterprise’

09:30 , Rachel Sharp

More than three decades after Sean Combs named his label Bad Boy Records, he’s been arrested on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, accused of everything from arson to kidnapping.

As authorities outline the shocking activities allegedly carried out at Combs’ direction by his “criminal enterprise,” Sheila Flynn charts the star’s epic fall from grace:

Authorities name Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as architect and leader of ‘criminal enterprise’

Combs will be back in court for bail hearing

09:00 , Ariana Baio

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is expected to appear back in court today for a bail hearing after a judge denied his request for bail and ordered him to remain in jail until his trial.

Combs’ attorney, Marc Angifilo said outside of the courthouse, that they would be appealing the judge’s decision.

“Mr. Combs is a fighter. He’s going to fight this to the end. He’s innocent,” Angifilo said on Tuesday.

The bail hearing is expected to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET.

ICYMI: Read the indictment against Combs

08:00 , Ariana Baio

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the rapper and music mogul, was charged with racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion by a federal grand jury on Monday evening in New York. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Federal prosecutors have accused Combs of using “employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled” to attempt to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”

Read the indictment here

Watch: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs LA home sealed off by police after singer’s arrest on Monday night

07:00 , Ariana Baio

U.S. Attorney urges people with information to come forward

05:00 , Ariana Baio

Although Combs is the only one charged in the indictment, he wasn’t the only one to engage in the abusive behavior, according to prosecutors.

Combs’ “enterprise”, made up of personal assistants, security staff, household staff and high-ranking supervisors, allegedly lured women to music mogul and were complicit in his abuse.

“If you have been a victim of Combs’ alleged abuse – or if you know anything about his alleged crimes – we urge you to come forward. This investigation is far from over,” Williams said.

Prosecutors say those individuals assisted in providing materials for “Freak Offs” that took place in hotels, like bottles of baby oil and lubricants, drugs, lighting, sheets and more.

Federal agents discovered more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricants in Combs’ Miami home last year while conducting a raid. They also discovered three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers and electronic devices that contained photos and videos of “Freak Offs”.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the investigation is ongoing and indicated others could be charged in connection or further charges could be brought against Combs.

The epic rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

03:00 , Ariana Baio

From Harlem to Hollywood — including the 1990s East Coast vs. West Coast rap rivalry, recent sexual harassment lawsuits, and the name changes from Sean Combs to “Love” Sheila Flynn explores Diddy’s wild and legally fraught path to fame

The epic rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

What are the latest allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as he’s arrested in New York?

01:00 , Ariana Baio, Andrea Cavallier

Sean “Diddy” Combs, a rapper and music mogul credited with helping launch the careers of some of the biggest stars in recent years, was arrested by federal agents in New York on Monday, after facing months of civil lawsuits accusing him of sex trafficking, sexual abuse and rape.

In an indictment unsealed on Tuesday morning, federal prosecutors allege Combs and his associates threatened, abused and coerced women and others around him “to fulfill his sexual desires” – which allegedly included forcing victims into engaging in recorded sexual activity which he referred to as “Freak Outs”.

All the allegations made against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Courtroom sketches depict Diddy at first hearing

Tuesday 17 September 2024 23:00 , Ariana Baio

Federal agents found defaced AR-15 firearms in Diddy’s home

Tuesday 17 September 2024 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Combs’ attorney says he is ‘innocent’ and will ‘fight’ charges

Tuesday 17 September 2024 21:46 , Ariana Baio

Marc Agnifilo, the lawyer for Combs, said on Tuesday afternoon that his client was “innocent” and planned to “fight” the charges until the very end.

“Mr. Combs is a fighter, he’s going to fight this to the end. He’s innocent,” Agnifilo said outside of the courthouse after a long day of preliminary hearings.

Agnifilo said his client was “not afraid of the charges” and had voluntarily come to New York ahead of the arrest to cooperate with authorities.

“He’s been looking forward to this day, he’s been looking forward to clearing his name,” Agnifilo said.

The lawyers added that Combs plans to appeal the judge’s decision to order him to jail.

Diddy will remain in jail until trial

Tuesday 17 September 2024 21:32 , Ariana Baio

Sean “Diddy” Combs will jailed until his sex trafficking trial, a judge in New York City ruled on Tuesday afternoon following Combs’ arraignment.

Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky found that Combs’ defense team did not provide a convincing enough argument to allow Combs to remain on house arrest until his trial.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams urged the judge to jail Combs, claiming he was a danger to others, a flight risk and posed a threat to obstruction of justice.

Combs’ attorneys refuted that, offering $50 million in bond and assuring he would hand over his passport. But the judge was unconvinced.

“I don’t know that you can trust yourself. I don’t think that counsel has the ability to control you based on substance abuse and what seems like anger issues,” Judge Tarnofsky said.

Combs and associates committed acts of violence like arson

Tuesday 17 September 2024 21:05 , Ariana Baio

Federal prosecutors described some of the violent acts that Combs and his associates used to intimidate victims, including an instance where they kidnapped an individual and set fire to their car.

Prosecutors said in their detainment request that in December 2011, Combs and a co-conspirator kidnapped an individual at gunpoint in order to facilitate breaking into the residence of “individual-1”.

Two weeks later, Combs and the co-conspirator allegedly set fire to “individual-1’s” vehicle by “slicing open the car’s convertible top and dropping a Molotov cocktail inside”. Federal prosecutors say police reports extensively document the arson and concluded that the fire was intentionally set.

Witnesses also testified to a grand jury that Combs bragged about his role in destroying the car.

Who was part of Diddy’s ‘criminal enterprise’

Tuesday 17 September 2024 20:30 , Ariana Baio

Combs relied on those close to him to help orchestrate and maintain a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York said.

“He used his business and employees of that business and other close associates to get his way,” Damian Williams said on Tuesday during a press conference.

That included “high-ranking supervisors, personal assistants, security staff and household staff.”

Diddy pleads not guilty

Tuesday 17 September 2024 19:47 , Ariana Baio

Sean “Diddy” Combs pleaded not guilty to all three federal criminal charges on Tuesday afternoon.

‘When he didn’t get his way, he was violent’ US attorney says

Tuesday 17 September 2024 19:30 , Ariana Baio

When victims refused to comply with Combs’ requests for them to participate in “Freak Outs” or attempted to flee, he became violent, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York said on Tuesday.

Attorney Damian Williams described how Combs would kick, hit, throw items at and sometimes drag victims by their hair when he “didn’t get his way.”

Some of the injuries that victims sustained took days or weeks to heal.

Watch: What are the latest allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as he’s arrested in New York?

Tuesday 17 September 2024 19:00 , Ariana Baio

What is the maximum sentence Combs could face?

Tuesday 17 September 2024 18:30 , Ariana Baio

Combs is charged with three federal crimes.

- One count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

- One count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison

- One count of transportation for purposes of prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Combs proposes $50m bond

Tuesday 17 September 2024 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Attorneys for music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have proposed to a federal judge a $50 million bond package for his release after being charged with three federal crimes.

Combs proposed the multi-million dollar bond, secured by his equity in his Miami residence and his mother’s home in Miami.

Additionally, it would be co-signed by his three adult sons, Quincy Brown, Justin Combs and Christian Combs; his mother Janice Combs; sister Keisha Combs; and the mother of his eldest daughter, Sarah Chapman.

Combs’ attorney said his passport has been surrendered since April 1, 2024, as well as the passports of his mother and four daughters. They said he has agreed to a home detention with GPS monitoring.

The U.S. Attorney is asking the judge to detain Diddy until his trial begins, claiming he is dangerous and poses a flight risk.

Others could be charged

Tuesday 17 September 2024 17:45 , Ariana Baio

According to the indictment, Combs did not act alone in allegedly coercing female victims into participating in “Freak Outs” and concealing physical, sexual and emotional abuse from the world. However, he is the only one charged.

But others could be charged and may currently be under investigation, U.S. attorney Damian Williams said on Tuesday.

“We are not done,” Williams said telling reporters the investigation remains ongoing.

This means Combs could also be charged with other crimes in a superseding indictment should prosecutors find more evidence of wrongdoing.

King Combs, son of Diddy, arrives at federal court

Tuesday 17 September 2024 17:21 , Ariana Baio

King Combs, the 26-year-old son of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs arrived at the Manhattan federal court where his father is being arraigned on three charges related to sex trafficking and violating RICO.

US attorney will seek to have Combs detained

Tuesday 17 September 2024 17:15 , Ariana Baio

The government wants to keep Combs detained while he awaits his sex trafficking trial, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said on Tuesday.

“The defendant is dangerous and poses an ongoing threat to the safety of the community. If released, he remains a serious risk of flight, despite the conditions offered by his counsel. Most glaringly, the defendant also poses a significant risk of obstructing justice,” Williams wrote in a letter to the judge.

The U.S. attorney said Combs has “already tried” to obstruct the government’s case by repeatedly contacting victims and witnesses and feeding them false narratives of the events.

Diddy charged with sex trafficking and racketeering

Tuesday 17 September 2024 17:00 , Ariana Baio

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul who has faced allegations of sexual abuse, was charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution after a federal grand jury in New York chose to bring an indictment against him.

Read more here:

Diddy charged with sex trafficking and racketeering as he appears in federal court

Federal agents found AR-15s and ‘1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant’ in Combs home

Tuesday 17 September 2024 16:49 , Ariana Baio

When federal agents raided Combs’ home in March, they allegedly found items related to the so-called “Freak Offs” that Combs hosted and weapons that were used to intimidate victims, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Williams said evidence of the “Freak Offs” included more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant that were used during the forced sexual acts and electronic devices that contained images and videos of the “Freak Offs” with multiple victims.

Additionally, three AR-15s with the serial number defaced and large-capacity drum magazines (59 rounds). These were allegedly brandished to intimidate victims into participating in “Freak Offs”.

Williams said agents found a firearm in Combs’ bedroom closet in his Miami home.

Watch Live: Outside of the courthouse where Diddy is set to appear

Tuesday 17 September 2024 16:30 , Ariana Baio

Watch live: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs expected in New York court after hotel arrest

Diddy expected to plead not guilty

Tuesday 17 September 2024 16:20 , Ariana Baio

Combs is expected to plead “not guilty” to the three federal criminal charges in his arraignment on Tuesday.

“He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might, and the full confidence of his lawyers. And I expect a long battle with a good result for Combs,” his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said outside of the courthouse.

What other allegations has Combs faced?

Tuesday 17 September 2024 16:08 , Ariana Baio, Andrea Cavallier

Combs has faced multiple accusations of sexual abuse, rape and sexual misconduct over the last year.

In November of 2023, R&B singer Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit alleging that she was trafficked, raped and beaten by Combs on many occasions over 10 years

She claimed Combs brought her into his “ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle” not long after she met him, and signed her to his label in 2005 when she was just 19 and he was 37. Ventura claimed that the pattern of abuse began as soon as their relationship started.

An anonymous woman also filed a lawsuit, accusing Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Hall of rape.

April Lampros, a woman who met Diddy while she was a student – claimed he had sexually assaulted her multiple times between 1995 and the early 2000s.

Dawn Richard, a former bandmate, accused the music mogul of physically and sexually abusing her and others while the two worked together, according to a lawsuit filed in New York federal court.

Former model Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit claiming the rapper sexually assaulted her at his recording studio in New York City in 2003.

US attorney will hold press conference

Tuesday 17 September 2024 15:28 , Ariana Baio

A press conference will be held at 11:30 a.m. ET where the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York will speak about the charges brought against Sean “Diddy” Combs

Indictment alleges Combs forced victims into ‘Freak Offs'

Tuesday 17 September 2024 15:16 , Ariana Baio

The indictment unveiled against Sean “Diddy” Combs contains graphic accusations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse spanning more than a decade.

Federal prosecutors allege Combs and those in his inner circle “wielded the power and prestige” of Combs to intimidate and lure female victims into Combs’ orbit under the pretense of a romantic relationship.

Combs allegedly then forced victims to engage in sex acts with male commercial sex workers which were often recorded and later used for Combs’ pleasure – something he allegedly referred to as “Freak Offs”.

The indictment alleges Combs subjected victims to physical, emotional and verbal abuse to cause them to engage in “Freak Offs” and maintained control over them with promises of career opportunities or threats of withholding financial support.

Sean ‘Diddy Combs’ charged with racketeering and sex trafficking

Tuesday 17 September 2024 14:53 , Ariana Baio

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the rapper and music mogul, was charged with racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion by a federal grand jury on Monday evening in New York.

Federal prosecutors are accusing Combs of using “employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled” to attempt to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.

He is expected to appear in federal court this morning.

Read the indictment here

Lawyer for Combs appears in Manhattan federal court

Tuesday 17 September 2024 14:31 , Ariana Baio

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested on Monday evening

Tuesday 17 September 2024 14:21 , Ariana Baio

Music mogul and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested on Monday evening at a Manhattan hotel after a grand jury indicted him.

Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations carried out the arrest. Combs was aware of the impending arrest and “voluntarily relocated” to New York last week in anticipation, his attorney Marc Agnifilo told The Independent.

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Agnifilo said. He called Combs “an innocent man with nothing to hide.”

The nature of the charges was not immediately clear.

Combs will appear in court any moment

Tuesday 17 September 2024 14:14 , Ariana Baio

Sean “Diddy” Combs, formerly known as “P. Diddy” and “Love”, is expected to appear in federal court in downtown Manhattan any moment following his Monday evening arrest.

The charges against Combs are unknown at this time but the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York said they would move to unseal the indictment this morning.

Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, arrived at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal building around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The rapper will likely be closing following his attorney

Catch up from March: Combs’ homes raided by US law enforcement

Tuesday 17 September 2024 14:11 , Ariana Baio

Music mogul and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has been under federal investigation for at least six months.

Back in March, federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles. Here’s what we knew then

Read the report from Mike Bedigan and Katie Hawkinson:

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ homes have been raided by US law enforcement. Here’s what we know

Tuesday 17 September 2024 14:07 , Ariana Baio

Welcome to The Independent’s live blog coverage of Sean “Diddy” Combs first appearance and indictment unsealing following his arrest on Monday evening.