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Breaking News:Takeaways from the racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking indictment against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs..See more 👇
CNN
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The first paragraph of the three-count federal indictment against the music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs lays out in an overarching summary the serious and sprawling allegations against him.
For decades, Sean Combs, aka ‘Puff Daddy,’ aka ‘P. Diddy,’ aka ‘Diddy,’ aka ‘PD,’ aka ‘Love,’ the defendant, abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct,” the indictment states. “To do so, Combs relied on the employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled – creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
The indictment from the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York charges Combs with three counts: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
Combs, 54, pleaded not guilty to the charges in court Tuesday afternoon. He was denied bail and will remain in federal detention, a federal judge ruled.
Judge Robyn Tarnofsky told Combs there were no conditions she could find to assure her that he will appear in court. “My concern is this is a crime that happens behind closed doors even when pre-trial services is monitoring,” Tarnofsky said.
In particular, the indictment accuses Combs of leading a “criminal enterprise” with other associates and employees, alleges he hosted drug-fueled “Freak Offs” with victims and sex workers, notes instances of physical and sexual abuse, and illuminates what law enforcement found in the March raids of his homes.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the indictment.
Combs accused of leading criminal enterprise
The first charge in the indictment is racketeering conspiracy, a federal crime used to target organized criminal syndicates, known as an “enterprise,” such as the Mafia.
In Combs’ case, the “Combs Enterprise” consisted of Combs, the leader; business entities, including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment; and employees and associates, including security staff, household staff, personal assistants and high-ranking supervisors, the indictment states.
FILE – Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center on May 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
Members and associates of the Combs Enterprise engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other activities, sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice,” the indictment states.
The indictment lists eight purposes for Combs Enterprise, including the above-board businesses of operating a media, entertainment, and lifestyle business.