A New York federal judge ordered the 54-year-old music icon to remain in custody, citing prosecutors’ claims that Combs posed a “serious flight risk.”
Combs was arrested on Monday evening and is accused of operating a criminal enterprise since at least 2008 that allegedly used drugs and violence to force women into fulfilling his sexual desires, according to prosecutors.
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The 14-page indictment charges Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transporting individuals for prostitution. If convicted, the rapper faces a potential sentence ranging from 15 years to life in prison.
During Tuesday’s court appearance in Manhattan, Combs, dressed in a black T-shirt and grey sweatpants, stood before US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky and pleaded “not guilty.”
Court documents reveal accusations that Combs exploited his celebrity status to “lure female victims” into “Freak Offs,” extended sex sessions where controlled substances were distributed to keep the victims compliant.
At a press briefing, US prosecutor Damian Williams disclosed that federal agents had discovered firearms, ammunition, and over 1,000 bottles of lubricant during raids on Combs’s properties in Miami and Los Angeles roughly six months ago. Additionally, three semi-automatic rifles with defaced serial numbers and a drum magazine were found. Williams also hinted that more charges could follow.
Combs’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, announced plans to appeal the bail decision, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. Agnifilo expressed confidence in his client, stating, “We believe in him wholeheartedly. He didn’t do these things. There’s no coercion and no crime.” He described the case as “an unjust prosecution.”
According to the indictment, Combs allegedly abused, coerced, and threatened women to protect his reputation and cover up his actions. He is accused of running a criminal enterprise whose members engaged in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, and bribery at his direction. The documents also detail instances of physical assault, including striking, punching, and kicking women.
While the indictment does not specify the number of alleged victims or accuse Combs of directly engaging in unwanted sexual acts, the accusations bear similarities to previous claims against the music mogul.
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Last November, Combs’s ex-girlfriend, singer Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of violent abuse. Though Combs denied the allegations, he settled the case just one day after it was filed. In May, he issued a public apology after footage emerged showing him assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.
Tuesday’s indictment echoes those claims of violent behaviour, but Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, declined to comment on the recent arrest.
Combs has faced several sexual assault allegations in recent years, including lawsuits from four women, including Ventura, accusing him of sexual and physical abuse.
In a statement issued last December, Combs dismissed the accusations as “sickening” and driven by people “looking for a quick payday.”
Following the growing controversy, Combs returned a ceremonial “Key to the City of New York” last June after Mayor Eric Adams requested its return. Shortly afterward, Howard University revoked the honorary degree it had awarded Combs in 2014.
Throughout his career, Combs has been credited with shaping the careers of artists like Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Notorious B.I.G. during the 1990s and early 2000s, becoming one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.
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