U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced Tuesday that rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been indicted on charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
The three-count indictment alleges that between 2008 and the present, Combs led a criminal enterprise that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, and other illegal activities.
Williams said Combs allegedly coerced victims into participating in “freak offs” – extended sexual performances involving multiple commercial sex workers and narcotics. These encounters sometimes lasted days and were often recorded.
“When Combs didn’t get his way, he was violent,” Williams stated, describing physical and emotional abuse inflicted on victims to ensure compliance.
The indictment also accuses Combs of using threats and blackmail to control victims, including leveraging embarrassing recordings as collateral.
Williams revealed that during March searches of Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles homes, agents seized firearms, ammunition, and evidence related to the alleged crimes. This included defaced AR-15 rifles, videos of “freak offs,” and over 1,000 bottles of personal lubricant.
“No matter how powerful or wealthy or famous you may be, no one should doubt our commitment” to prosecuting sex trafficking, Williams emphasized.
The prosecutor encouraged anyone with information to come forward, providing a hotline number. He thanked victims and witnesses for their cooperation, as well as the investigative team from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Williams declined to specify how many victims were involved or explain why charges weren’t brought sooner, stating only that the investigation is ongoing.
Combs, 54, rose to fame in the 1990s as a music producer and rapper before expanding into fashion, media, and other business ventures. He has not yet publicly responded to the charges.
If convicted, Combs could face decades in prison.
