Sean “Diddy” Combs was ordered to jail on Tuesday to await trial on federal sex trafficking charges, after a judge denied him bail in a case accusing him of running a criminal empire centered around sexual exploitation.
Combs, 54, pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He is accused of orchestrating drug-fueled, multi-day sexual events referred to as “Freak Offs,” and the indictment also hints at a violent attack on his ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, which was allegedly captured on video.
Prosecutors pushed for Combs to remain behind bars, calling him a danger to the public. His defense team requested he be released on a $50 million bond with home detention and electronic monitoring. However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky sided with the prosecution, ordering Combs to be held without bail.
Combs was arrested on Monday in Manhattan, six months after federal authorities raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking investigation. If convicted, he could face a minimum of 15 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence.
The indictment describes Combs as the leader of a criminal organization involved in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, drug offenses, and obstruction of justice. It details how Combs allegedly lured women under the guise of romantic relationships, only to force them into “Freak Offs,” which were described as highly produced sexual performances often recorded by Combs.
His employees were said to have helped arrange these events, which sometimes lasted for days, with participants receiving IV fluids to recover from the drugs and exertion.
During raids on his properties, authorities reportedly seized narcotics, videos of the events, and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, as well as firearms, including AR-15s with defaced serial numbers.
The charges against Combs come amid a flood of allegations against him, including a lawsuit filed by Cassie in November accusing him of years of abuse. Though that lawsuit was settled within a day, footage later aired of Combs assaulting her in a hotel, an incident referred to in the indictment. Prosecutors also claim Combs attempted to bribe hotel staff to cover up the incident.