On September 16, 2024, the music industry was stunned when Sean Combs, the iconic rapper and producer known as “Puff Daddy” and “P. Diddy,” was arrested amid accusations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and physical abuse. This development came just six months after a joint operation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security raided Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami residences, linked to an alleged sex trafficking and RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) case, as reported by NBC News.
Combs, the artist behind “Mo Money Mo Problems,” built a music empire from the 1990s, founding Bad Boy Records and mentoring artists such as Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, and Usher. However, in 2023, a series of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, underage sex, and assault began to surface, ultimately leading to the indictment.
The day following his arrest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York released the indictment against Combs. The allegations state that beginning in 2008, Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others,” leading a racketeering conspiracy that included sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, to “fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”
U.S. District Court Indictment: Abuse and Coercion
The U.S. District Court indictment accuses Sean Combs of verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse against women.
According to the indictment, “As part of his pattern of abuse, Combs manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers.” He allegedly exploited his music business to transport women and sex workers to his residences, forcing them to engage in sexual acts, sometimes while under the influence of narcotics, leveraging his fame and power. The indictment further alleges that Combs “controlling their careers, leveraging his financial support and threatening to cut off the same, and using intimidation and violence.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs, also known as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, faces serious allegations of sex trafficking and abuse.
The indictment cites an incident from March 2016 at a Los Angeles hotel where surveillance video captured Combs chasing, kicking, and dragging his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie, down a hotel hallway. Ventura, who was signed to his record label, filed a sex trafficking lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, stated to Rolling Stone that “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs.”
Ventura’s lawsuit also detailed allegations of Combs forcing her to participate in what he termed “freak-offs,” a claim echoed in the indictment’s sex trafficking allegations.
“Freak-offs” and Controlled Substances
The indictment details the disturbing nature of these alleged “freak-offs”:
“Freak-offs occurred regularly, sometimes lasting multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers,” the indictment states. “During freak-offs, Combs distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part keeping the victims obedient and compliant. Sometimes unbeknownst to the victims, Combs kept videos he filmed of victims engaging in sex acts with commercial sex workers. After freak-offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use.”
P. Diddy is accused of hosting events involving drug use and sexual exploitation.
The indictment also implicates members of Combs’ staff, alleging their involvement in “booking hotel rooms for the freak-offs; stocking the hotel rooms in advance with the required freak-off supplies, including controlled substances, baby oil, lubricant, extra linens and lighting” and “arranging for travel for victims, commercial sex workers, and Combs to and from the freak-offs.”
Mounting Lawsuits Against Sean “Diddy” Combs
In October 2024, a Texas lawyer announced representation of 120 individuals accusing Combs of sex abuse, including 25 minors. Tony Buzbee stated that his youngest client was allegedly only 9 years old when they met Combs at his Bad Boy Offices in New York City for an audition, according to Rolling Stone.
Buzbee told the magazine, “All were seeking either TV or some sort of music career with promises of, you know, ‘We’re going to make you a star,’ Instead, basically, [Combs] did things to them so they don’t want to have anything to do with the entertainment industry ever again.”
Other lawsuits against Combs involve more recent claims of abuse and rape. One lawsuit filed in New York in October 2024 alleges the plaintiff was drugged on the night Combs received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards in June 2022, and his body was “passed around like a party favor for [Combs’ guests’] sexual enjoyment,” Rolling Stone reported.
Another plaintiff claimed he was raped during an audition for Combs’ MTV series Making The Band.
According to Rolling Stone, “He alleges that on the first day, Combs began groping and fondling him during a private meeting … he says that a day later, during another private interview, Combs allegedly forced him to perform oral sex and sodomized him.”
Sean Combs has denied all allegations. As reported by BBC, he is currently in federal custody awaiting trial. If convicted, he could face 15 years to life in prison.
His attorney, Marc Angifilo, told NBC News, “Mr. Combs is a fighter. He’s going to fight this to the end. He’s innocent.”
